Robin Williams Gone Too Soon

As a kid growing up my favorite comedian by far was Robin Williams. I first knew of him as Mork on Mork and Mindy. Of course he then played Popeye which was great for a kid. I could not understand why my parents would not let me watch his HBO special. Mork is funny why can’t I watch him? Being an enterprising young man I used my parents VCR to tape Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on HBO. I accidentally let the recorder go long in order to see Robin Williams Live at the Met. That is still one of the great comedy specials that I have seen. From that point on anytime that someone would ask me what I wanted to do in life I would say stand up comedian. Robin would be listed as the reason why. He was a little blue, but he was still funny. The picture above was taken with a  point and shoot the second time that I saw him play live. I grew up watching his standup, and it was great that he came back out so that I could see it live not once but twice. It is crazy to think that this man who gave the world such joy ended his life because of great sadness.

Getting the News that One of You Boyhood Heroes Has Died

Tonight I was out to eat with my wife when I got a text from my brother. I saw that it included a picture of Robin on it, and I shut my phone back of knowing that it could not be good. A couple of minutes later I picked the phone back up, and I could then confirm that my worst suspicion had come true. Robin was always a tortured soul that may finally now have piece. As a manic you saw how up he would get when he was on TV. One could only imagine how low he could get as well. His pain finally ended today apparently by his own hand. When I first heard the news I thought that it could have been his heart. In a way maybe his heart just wasn’t in this life anymore. Tonight I spent some time watching some of the work that made me laugh all through my life. From his early work with Mork to some of his great appearances on talk shows and movies lately. I don’t normally post something topical, but when it hits home I tend to do so. Besides my dad I had three heroes growing up as a kid. Robin, Carlton, and Michael. One of them is now gone.