This Tweet Sums It All Up

Black Metal Cats (@evilbmcats) is one of my favorite accounts on Twitter. In all, 2016 has been a really crappy year for a lot of people.

After the news broke last night that Debbie Reynolds had died just 24 hours after her daughter Carrie Fisher, I decided that 2016 really did have no chill and I'm girding myself for the next 72 hours or so left of this miserable year. Let's all be really still, really careful and hope we don't lose any more of the musicians and actors we love. I seriously have nothing else to say at this point, except "good grief!"

Be sure to check back tomorrow (glam willing) for my top 5 of 2016 list! 

Times, they are dark. pic.twitter.com/adyMkTtldV

— Black Metal Cats (@evilbmcats) November 30, 2016

Comments

[Him]

Far be it from me to offer a silver lining in all this. You know me. I am the one who offers the "we are all going to die" sort of proclamations. But I do think we can lose the forest for the trees. Even when I am throwing doom bolts, I think I am trying to offer perspective too.

Same here. Every year sucks. Every year sees people we love--close to us in a myriad of ways--pass. But every year also has at least a few (if not more) high points before it, too, passes. Some more than others, true. But that varies from person to person.

Just the mere fact that any of us can put a finger to a keyboard is a blessing. That we can get a response from a person we love is an equal gift. And, while we have lost a lot of great people this year, we haven't lost everyone . . . or thing. Perspective, again.

I hate to turn this into a college course. But I will. At one of my lowest ebbs (the year doesn't matter), I found solace in a quote from William James (actually a quote that he referenced from a British jurist). For those of you who have no idea who he is, no worries. For those that might know who he is, cool. He suffered a lot. But he also made a lot of people's lives better. We can all aspire to that, right? So here it goes:

"What do you think of yourself? What do you think of the world? . . . These are questions with which all must deal as it seems good to them. They are riddles of the Sphinx, and in some way or other we must deal with them. . . . In all important transactions of life we have to take a leap in the dark.... If we decide to leave the riddles unanswered, that is a choice; if we waver in our answer, that, too, is a choice: but whatever choice we make, we make it at our peril. If a man chooses to turn his back altogether on God and the future, no one can prevent him; no one can show beyond reasonable doubt that he is mistaken. If a man thinks otherwise and acts as he thinks, I do not see that any one can prove that he is mistaken. Each must act as he thinks best; and if he is wrong, so much the worse for him. We stand on a mountain pass in the midst of whirling snow and blinding mist through which we get glimpses now and then of paths which may be deceptive. If we stand still we shall be frozen to death. If we take the wrong road we shall be dashed to pieces. We do not certainly know whether there is any right one. What must we do? 'Be strong and of a good courage.' Act for the best, hope for the best, and take what comes. . . . If death ends all, we cannot meet death better."

One year is about to pass. Another is beginning. Best to look towards that light, even as we pay respects to the embers that we leave behind. We lose nothing by _hoping_ that the new year will be better, even if we risk something by trying to make it true.

[fletch]

That was beautiful (as usual), Him. In my last post under George Michael, I mentioned a "kid" I know, named Freddy. He was my former foster son. He left my house about 10 years ago when my wife and I decided to stop fostering. He moved to Connecticut where he was from originally. However, he has remained in touch with us and has called me about every 6 months since leaving, saying he is planning a visit back to Pennsylvania to see us. I always tell him that 'Mi casa es su casa".

He has never visited and honestly, I didn't think he would (funds, wherewithal, etc...)...It's complicated. Anyway, 2016 really sucked for me (and apparently for a lot of other people too). I won't get into a pity party as I still have family, friends, health and comfort in many things.

Back to Freddy...He called me a couple days before Christmas and said he was planning a visit for a few days. Again, I told him that he is more than welcome; never thinking that he would be able to make it. On Christmas day, he called my from the local bus station saying that he made is down and asked for me to pick him up. I drove him back to my home where, in addition to my children, another former charge of mine was staying for the holidays as he has no family and no where to go, so my wife him invited him to stay with us, too.

Freddy sat down at our kitchen table and with tears of joy, he said to me, "Dad, I've waited so long to rock out with you again". I looked at the other "kid" (who is now 36yo) and said, "I guess Cathy and I have made a meaningful impact on the kids we've tried to help over the years." He replied, 'Yeah, Gary, you guys have".

That was my Christmas present to an otherwise Long Cold Year.

[Rita]

Him - beautifully written, as usual.

And if my child died, I'd probably be fine going the next day myself. Just saying.

And yes, more and more people will be lost next year. If our peers were the Justin Biebers and the Ariana Grandes of the world, it be safe to say that death would take a very long holiday. But nope, I fear the losses will continue as we all get older. Sorry for the bummer post.

[Metalboy!]

Don't forget, Rita, we've had death rob us of our peers back in the day, too... Randy Rhoads, Dee Dee Ramone, Robin Crosby, Kurt Cobain, Shannon Hoon, Stiv Bators, River Phoenix, etc.

Personally, I'm equally effected by the loss of an inspirational figure regardless of age, which is why I feel just as sad about David Bowie as I do, Scott Weiland.

[Gary]

Him that just rocked. I lost my bro-in-law (closest thing to a brother I've ever had,that's how tight we were). It puts shit in perspective in between the grieving. Like how unimportant most of the shit we worry about endlessly in our lives is as consequential as a boil on the ass of life is. As fletch points out in HIS awesome post, (great job bud) the real shit that matters is how we treat each other and the lives we (hopefully) touch along the way....
Rock on folks,and here's to a better 2017 for all, even if your 2016 was great! 😎

[fletch]

thank you, gary, for your very kind words and feelings...now onto really sh*t

I got moe, larry and squirlly looking over my back hoping that (we) don't preach too loudly.

I mean,