My new Years post, 2016's farewell
I know its been awhile...thought I would post here, and keep my thoughts for the past year, and hope for a brighter year.
2016 has not been a good year
I've had people say that , compared to other years and events - Holocaust, 911, refugees escaping war zones, world wars, this is a drop in the bucket. Perhaps. I will admit the war torn world saddens me too, but it is less…personal.
A lot of famous people have passed this year- some at the fullness of their lives, others abruptly cut short. No, they weren't people I personally knew, but their loss cuts keenly against my soul. Just because you haven't physically met someone doesn't mean that they have not had an impact on your life.
Through their gifts of words: Harper Lee, with to Kill a Mockingbird, which was part of my love of reading. Watership Down, a story of bunnies, life, and death, by Richard Adams, explored my sense of wonder, and was one of my earliest books. It was one of my first visions of death “My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today.” Elie Wiesel - Night. It was a shock, a look into a horrific world that sticks with me still today. Some books and images get engraved upon your heart, your soul ad being. This scarred me, and made me less blind to the world around me, to injustices, to the horrific power of a leader, charismatic, and bigoted, that was willing to kill to have their ideal world.
Through their gift of acting: David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Ron Glass, Anton Yelchin, Jerry Doyle, Kenny Baker, Gene Wilder, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds. Some of many. David Bowie will always be my Goblin King, and when days were rough, I would watch Labyrinth to feel better. There were days that I would wish the Goblin King would take me away. Alan Rickman was the voice of God, in Dogma, and Snape. He brought magic to my world and made me thing that sometimes, the first impression is incorrect - look deeper. Ron Glass and Jerry Doyle were my Garibaldi and Sheppard Book, taught to have faith when things were at their worst, that we could keep going in the darkness of the night. Anton, you were taken too early. Gene Wilder - a wild and crazy man, who took us through our golden ticket, to another world of pure imagination, and that there are sometimes hazards in a idyllic paradise, that you must be aware. Debbie Reynolds, you were scattered through my past, but your magic lit the world as well. And Kenny Baker, Carrie Fisher- you were my gateway to space, to a galaxy far far away. I've loved Star Wars all my life, and there was a great disturbance when you were taken.
The gift of Music: David Bowie, George Martin, Frank Sinatra, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael. Yes, David Bowie again. The movie was the gateway to his music. He made me smile and dance…and cry through his gift of song …"Ground control to Major Tom…" George Martin, Beatle, enough said. Without them, the world would have been a very different place. Sinatra, the crooner, the backdrop of so many dinners and movies, that would always make things better, Leonard Cohen - Halleluiah is one of my favorite songs "Love is not a Victory March…" so true. George Michael - Faith is the song that sits in my head, from high school, from school dances, and the craziness of growing up. And Prince. Same, but with a personal note. I will remember "1999" for Hurricane Floyd, as the waters rose, and that was the only song on that station, in a loop. I had tapes with his songs, and high school would have been so different without him.
And there were those who shook the world: Muhammed Ali, John Glenn, Janet Reno, Nancy Reagan, Antonin Scalia, Fidel Castro. I remember watching fights and the Olympics. I live in Louisville which was The Champs hometown, and the spirit this community has because of his influence is amazing. Changing his name, fighting , he made such an impact on sports and the world as an ambassador. John Glenn - you orbited the earth, the first American in space, and saw this wonderful fragile blue and green marbled planet from its nearest neighbor. You helped light the flame to explore space, which saddens me that we aren't going as far anymore. Nancy Reagan, first lady, you affected our nation through your actions and grace, and Janet Reno's rulings affected the laws of our nation as did Scalia's. Though I may not have approved of his rulings, he was definitely a force on politics and law as was Castro. They affected the world through joy and sorrow, and shaped the place and mind I am today.
The election and the fears behind it for myself, for friends and family haunts me this year, and I found out in December my mother in law has cancer. More than just the celebrity loss, but those other factors out there too.
2016 - maybe not as many lost as 9/11, true. But these people affected my youth and who I am, shaping me to the person I am today. Maybe in the large scale, a drop in the bucket, but to me, an ocean of discovery, change and growth. You will be missed. But I will be glad when that last bell tolls midnight, and a new year comes through.
May 2017 be a brighter new year and may our hearts be lighter, and bring joy to those around us.
2016 has not been a good year
I've had people say that , compared to other years and events - Holocaust, 911, refugees escaping war zones, world wars, this is a drop in the bucket. Perhaps. I will admit the war torn world saddens me too, but it is less…personal.
A lot of famous people have passed this year- some at the fullness of their lives, others abruptly cut short. No, they weren't people I personally knew, but their loss cuts keenly against my soul. Just because you haven't physically met someone doesn't mean that they have not had an impact on your life.
Through their gifts of words: Harper Lee, with to Kill a Mockingbird, which was part of my love of reading. Watership Down, a story of bunnies, life, and death, by Richard Adams, explored my sense of wonder, and was one of my earliest books. It was one of my first visions of death “My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today.” Elie Wiesel - Night. It was a shock, a look into a horrific world that sticks with me still today. Some books and images get engraved upon your heart, your soul ad being. This scarred me, and made me less blind to the world around me, to injustices, to the horrific power of a leader, charismatic, and bigoted, that was willing to kill to have their ideal world.
Through their gift of acting: David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Ron Glass, Anton Yelchin, Jerry Doyle, Kenny Baker, Gene Wilder, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds. Some of many. David Bowie will always be my Goblin King, and when days were rough, I would watch Labyrinth to feel better. There were days that I would wish the Goblin King would take me away. Alan Rickman was the voice of God, in Dogma, and Snape. He brought magic to my world and made me thing that sometimes, the first impression is incorrect - look deeper. Ron Glass and Jerry Doyle were my Garibaldi and Sheppard Book, taught to have faith when things were at their worst, that we could keep going in the darkness of the night. Anton, you were taken too early. Gene Wilder - a wild and crazy man, who took us through our golden ticket, to another world of pure imagination, and that there are sometimes hazards in a idyllic paradise, that you must be aware. Debbie Reynolds, you were scattered through my past, but your magic lit the world as well. And Kenny Baker, Carrie Fisher- you were my gateway to space, to a galaxy far far away. I've loved Star Wars all my life, and there was a great disturbance when you were taken.
The gift of Music: David Bowie, George Martin, Frank Sinatra, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael. Yes, David Bowie again. The movie was the gateway to his music. He made me smile and dance…and cry through his gift of song …"Ground control to Major Tom…" George Martin, Beatle, enough said. Without them, the world would have been a very different place. Sinatra, the crooner, the backdrop of so many dinners and movies, that would always make things better, Leonard Cohen - Halleluiah is one of my favorite songs "Love is not a Victory March…" so true. George Michael - Faith is the song that sits in my head, from high school, from school dances, and the craziness of growing up. And Prince. Same, but with a personal note. I will remember "1999" for Hurricane Floyd, as the waters rose, and that was the only song on that station, in a loop. I had tapes with his songs, and high school would have been so different without him.
And there were those who shook the world: Muhammed Ali, John Glenn, Janet Reno, Nancy Reagan, Antonin Scalia, Fidel Castro. I remember watching fights and the Olympics. I live in Louisville which was The Champs hometown, and the spirit this community has because of his influence is amazing. Changing his name, fighting , he made such an impact on sports and the world as an ambassador. John Glenn - you orbited the earth, the first American in space, and saw this wonderful fragile blue and green marbled planet from its nearest neighbor. You helped light the flame to explore space, which saddens me that we aren't going as far anymore. Nancy Reagan, first lady, you affected our nation through your actions and grace, and Janet Reno's rulings affected the laws of our nation as did Scalia's. Though I may not have approved of his rulings, he was definitely a force on politics and law as was Castro. They affected the world through joy and sorrow, and shaped the place and mind I am today.
The election and the fears behind it for myself, for friends and family haunts me this year, and I found out in December my mother in law has cancer. More than just the celebrity loss, but those other factors out there too.
2016 - maybe not as many lost as 9/11, true. But these people affected my youth and who I am, shaping me to the person I am today. Maybe in the large scale, a drop in the bucket, but to me, an ocean of discovery, change and growth. You will be missed. But I will be glad when that last bell tolls midnight, and a new year comes through.
May 2017 be a brighter new year and may our hearts be lighter, and bring joy to those around us.