On the timing and meaning of death of people we don’t know
Well that sounds pretty grim, doesn’t it?
Blogs seem to be abuzz with discussion about all the celebrities who’ve died in a short period of time: Michael Jackson, David Carradine, this TV ad pitchman guy, Farrah Fawcett… and several others who’ve passed in recent months, like Ed McMahon, Bea Arthur and Dom Deluise (if you’re wondering how I remember these, there’s actually a website I just found that lists the deaths of celebrities: http://deaths.debritz.net/).
Death is death. People die all the time. So the fact that the people who die are fairly well known to some or many seems like not a big deal. What’s more interesting to me is what the particular person and the timing of their passing means to people.
Take John Lennon. I remember waking up to the radio alarm on a cold December morning in 1980 hearing the news that Lennon had been shot. I was 25. And I was devastated. The Beatles were part of my childhood and adolescence; I matured as their music changed, and became a young adult in my own right as they ventured into independent careers. By 1980 John Lennon was more than a celebrity; he was an author of the soundtrack of my formative years, not to be overly dramatic. He’d also eclipsed Paul McCartney in my heart and mind. Paul was the handsome Beatle we all drooled over with our Tiger Beat magazines and sang along with. But by the time I hit my 20s, I’d realized how very cool and creative and visionary John Lennon was. And then he was gone. Not a drug overdose death. Not a car accident. But a senseless murder.
A meaningful death and a meaningful time.
And there are the legendary deaths that are meaningful whenever they happen. Like Paul Newman. Or sadly and possibly not long from now, Walter Cronkite. People who’ve done great things for a whole lifetime, yours and theirs. We hear of their deaths and are wistful at the loss.
There are minor celebrities whose loss similarly feels minor though sad (that said, they are human beings and have families and friends for whom the loss is significant. I’m just talking celebrity here). Like David Carradine or Ed McMahon. Personally, not a big fan of either.
And then there are the celebrities for whom there is a variable sense of appreciation, but the loss isn’t devastating. Farrah fits into this category (see previous post). And time wasn’t on her side to be truly shocking. Plus she was very public about her disease (more appreciation) so her death was expected. Though still sad. Or Bea Arthur or Dom Deluise, who really did entertain and enrich my life.
Which brings me rather full circle to Michael Jackson. I’m putting him in a separate category, joined perhaps by Elvis. Big celebrities. Shocking, unexpected deaths. Massive expressions worldwide over the loss. And I’m sure for some, for many there is meaning, and timing. Not for me. Meaning and timing for me with Michael would have been 1984, at the height of his Thriller fame. Twenty five years diminished the sheen of his talent and who he was (to me) wasn’t that significant.
But I don’t question that for some, Michael Jackson was my John Lennon.
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