Dearly Departed…

29 Dec 2016 53 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , , , , ,

I woke this morning to the news that Debbie Reynolds had passed away, 2 short days after hearing of her daughter Carrie Fisher had left us. Preceding her demise, we had been shocked to the core by the news of George Michael…

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And the list is long this year, of famous names who have forever said goodbye to the word, sung their last song, acted their last scene, rewritten their last book, played their last game, etc…

Prince, David Bowie, Gene Wilder, Harper Lee, oh man, I can’t even write how many names have been heard this year, included in obituaries…

It’s been horrifying hearing of all these well-known names passing away.

But what of the average person too? There have been deaths, every day, as there always haws been, and always will be, in our personal lives.

I hear it, and I say it myself a lot, “2016, do one now. I can’t take hearing any more of this news, another celebrity, gone.” But we don’t appear to be thinking of normal lives, just those well-publicised deaths.

I remember, as a child, there was another year, like this, but for us, it was a personal reason that we wanted the year to be done. It seemed that every month, we heard of a family member passing away, from old age, or through a road accident, and it was horrible. Of course, these people passing, who we knew and loved, were going to elicit a reaction of devastation.

But why the same reaction for all these celebrities?

Sure, we know of them, but there is no real link, is there?

Here’s where I beg to differ. For many of us, these names formed part of a framework of our own history. They were the soundtrack of our lives.

From the music we listened to, the books we read, and the movies or shows we watched, to the political decision that may have coloured our lives one way or another, these names meant something in an innately different way.

I am no super fan of anyone really, but on the evening of Christmas Day, when a news update pinged on my phone, informing me of the untimely demise of George Michael, I was shell-shocked, speechless, and quite frankly, devastated.

I used to have Wham! posters on my wall as a teen. Admittedly, it was Andrew Ridgely who I lusted after, but George, well, he was truly part of the soundtrack of my youth.

Gene Wilder – Well, his films had my brother and me in stitches many a time. Wilder’s portrayal of Willy Wonka was something that we will never forget.

Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia, will live forever in our hearts. One of the first true advocates of Girl Power!

I could let this list go on and on…

Suffice to say, this year has had many ups and downs, and it will probably be remembered for many of the downs relating to the loss of a famous figure, alongside the shock Brexit vote, the whole US presidency voting, and the number of devastating terrorist attacks.

I am definitely ready to say goodbye to this year… I know there will be celebrity losses next year, but here’s hoping that the volume of them are not in the same capacity as this year. This year, we lost Gold….

 

 

53 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Osyth
    Jan 01, 2017 @ 18:22:08

    Excellent piece. Two nights ago we were staying with friends and I asked each person in the room in turn which of the cricket score of celebrity deaths this year had effected them the most. Each person had a different answer and in every case an anecdote that personalised the death into their own tapestry. Celebrities are part of our fabric and we should not shy away from mourning them as part of our own lives.

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  3. Heartafire
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 23:32:04

    I found the news of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie fisher’s deaths the saddest I have heard in a while. It is heartbreaking and in a way it points to the close relationship between a daughter and Mom. Thank you for such a lovely post Ritu.

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  4. Deb
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 14:21:10

    I was named after Debbie Reynolds, so when you say that they are a part of the framework in our lives, they most definitely are. Even though we don’t know them personally we feel as if we do. Yes it has been quite a year for losses, the sadness is for the ones left behind not for the ones who have passed. They have moved on to another dimension far more wonderful than here and the way I look at it Mother and Daughter are together again. But we are left behind sad and feeling their loss, no longer to share in their lives. May they all Rest In Peace! Beautiful post Ritu! May your 2017 be filled with many happy blessings and dreams come true. xo

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  5. Judy E Martin
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 11:11:06

    This was a dreadful year without a doubt. I agree about many of these stars being a soundtrack to our lives, Victoria Wood, Rick Parfitt and Jean Alexander ( Hilda Ogden) were definitely a part of mine, growing up.
    Like you I was devastated by George Michael’s and Prince’s deaths as well as David Bowie. In fact, as I am writing this, more and more names come to mind of those we have lost this year.
    I can’t wait to see the back of it!

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  6. New Journey
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 03:02:11

    My heart goes out to all the families of those we lost this last year….seems like it won’t stop….

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. wwwpalfitness
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 01:49:23

    I wrote a similar one lots of drugs ravaging bodies catching up but Debbie Reynolds?

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. wwwpalfitness
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 01:48:41

    Reblogged this on wwwpalfitness.

    Like

    Reply

  9. gaystepdad
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 01:09:10

    Here Here….farewell 2016!! You’ve been a bastard

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Lisa A.
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 00:37:56

    I’m SO glad this year is almost over! I hope 2017 is a lot better for everyone. I don’t remember there being as many celebrity deaths like 2016. I saw Debbie Reynolds give a speech at a local film festival a few years back. She was from El Paso. It’s so sad to see her and her daughter go 😦 I was really shocked with George Michael’s and Prince’s death.

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  11. Becky Ellis
    Dec 30, 2016 @ 00:37:08

    Debbie Reynolds was an angel. She lived in my hometown, Roanoke, Virginia for a few years and performed with our Symphony Orchestra. At the party after her concert she stayed and greeted everyone with a warm smile. She was a class act. But now she is singing and dancing in heaven with her sweet daughter. Debbie made our world a happier place, bless her.

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  12. willowdot21
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 22:00:53

    I agree with everything you say so sad .

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. weggieboy
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 21:03:02

    I survived near death from end term kidney failure in January 2016, yet I lost my brother to cancer on December 19th. That makes 2016 a difficult year to process.

    I try not to fall into despair, to maintain a positive attitude despite Trump becoming US President (God help us all!), a crazed young man driving into holiday crowds to satisfy some ideology that has nothing to do with the religion it supposedly reflects, and a country (where I live) where a man upset with how a 3-year-old’s grandmother drives can shoot into the grandmother’s car and kill the 3-year-old.

    “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” There are many attributions for that, but I remember it as the opening statement on a television program sponsored by the Christophers in the 1950 when we got exactly two television stations where I live.

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  14. syl65
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 17:27:44

    When death is so very present as it has been, we are reminded how short life is. A very touching post Sister..🙏🏽

    Liked by 1 person

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  15. colinandray
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 16:15:38

    Was 2016 really that different? I do not have any stats to confirm or reject any conclusions however, some points to ponder:

    The older we get, the more people impact our lives in some way, and therefore the more deaths are going to register with us.

    The older we get, the more people impact us by virtue of their passing, having been born after us!

    The older we get, perhaps the more attention we pay to world news and are subsequently impacted by it.

    The older we get, perhaps we are simply more attuned to death and catastrophic events. Perhaps my view of 2016 (which is pretty much the same as yours), is influenced by my age (which is much different from yours!).

    Regardless, I too will be praying that we will eventually look back on 2017 as the year of good happenings, of international peace and cooperation… and less for the celebrity and personal passings; and less for the death and destruction as a result of political, religious, and idealistic agendas.

    It really does not matter how the events of 2016 are explained, we can all do our personal best to contribute to a much better 2017.

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  16. noorainsobiya
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 15:24:20

    Very true and spot on!

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. AmyRose🌹
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 14:28:32

    This year has been so tragically sad with so many celebrities gone. Shock after shock. Beautiful and thoughtful post, Ritu, and I thank you. Much Love, ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. Chris White
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 14:22:04

    It certainly has been a notable year for celebrity deaths. It seems to be an increasing trend as well.

    Liked by 1 person

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  19. vanbytheriver
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 13:38:44

    Well said, Ritu, we surely have lost gold. I don’t remember a year quite like this one. sigh…

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. robbiesinspiration
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 12:15:15

    A very meaningful post, Ritu. I never really thought about the death of celebrities that way but I think you are right.

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. Erika Kind
    Dec 29, 2016 @ 11:45:43

    The end of the year has it. I remember that many people also in my surrounding passed away around Christmas or between Christmas and the New Year.

    Liked by 1 person

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