Nanu Nanu

Robin Williams: "No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."   from "Dead Poets Society"


It feels odd to mourn someone I never knew. But every once in a while, a writer, artist or actor will pass, and my world tilts a little bit.

On the evening of August 11, I was having dinner with my sisters, niece and cousins. There we were, nine of us, all talking at once in a living room. Nine conversations at full speed. Suddenly a phone buzzed with a news alert. After a few attempts to silence us, my cousin read aloud the news that Robin Williams had died earlier that day. The room became quiet, and disbelief took over. "Is it an Internet hoax?" "No way, he's too young." "What happened to him?" 

For the rest of the evening, between stories of family and work, between bites of pizza and dessert, one of us would mention his death again and we'd all fall silent.

In the car on the way home, I thought about Robin Williams' appearances on David Letterman's Late Show, when I'd laugh so hard I'd lose my breath and start wheezing. The strange sweetness of Mork. His work with Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal raising money for Comic Relief. 

We're fortunate to have Robin Williams' comedy and drama available to us any time we need to laugh (Mrs. Doubtfire) or watch his transition to downright creepy (One Hour Photo).

Good Morning, Vietnam. Aladdin. Insomnia.  Man of the Year. Night at the Museum. Jumanji. Birdcage. Law & Order: SVU. Dead Poets Society. Good Will Hunting.

I'll miss you, Robin Williams.

                                 ******************************* 

There are books written by the funniest people on the planet. Caution: some memoirs can be quite poignant. Prepare for an occasional lump in the throat.

And this is a SHORT list!

Tina Fey - Bossypants
Whoopi Goldberg - Is it Just Me or is it Nuts Out There?
Jim Gaffigan - Dad is Fat
Lizz Winstead - Lizz Free or Die
Jon Stewart - Earth
Richard Pryor - Pryor Convictions
Bruce McCall & David Letterman - This Land was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me)
David Letterman - Book of Top 10 Lists
George Carlin - Brain Droppings
Jerry Seinfeld - Seinlanguage
Steve Martin - Born Standing Up
Don Rickles - Rickles' Book
Billy Crystal - Still Foolin' Em
Jimmy Fallon - Thank You Notes
Roz Chast - Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
Carl Reiner - My Anecdotal Life
Mindy Kaling - Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Darrell Hammond - God, if You're Not Up There...
Stephen Colbert - I am America and So Can You
Bob Newhart - I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This
Carol Burnett - This Time Together


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