Friday, August 15, 2014

Listening to the Confusion Weekly Link Round-Up



In many ways, this has been a very good week. We have a new car that we've been getting used to. I'm hoping a very dear friend has a wonderful time in Brazil. We had a great trip to The Poisoned Pen for an author event-- and I'll share a photo of the book haul I came home with. I've even spent some time out in the pool with more wonderful books. I know you've been waiting for the "but", and I'm not going to disappoint you.

Latest haul from The Poisoned Pen
A veil of sadness has been thrown over everything with the news of Robin Williams' suicide. Like many of the rest of you, Robin was a presence in most of my life. He's long been one of my top four comedians, joining Jonathan Winters, George Carlin, and Billy Connolly. Like many of the very best comics, Robin was no stranger to pain and depression. In much of the outpouring of grief that's shown up on the internet, over and over I've seen comments like "He couldn't have been depressed-- he was so funny!!!"

Ah my dears, those who have fought depression the hardest, those who have stared into the abyss, are often the funniest people you'll ever meet. Why? Because every single one of them has learned how to blend in, how to appear normal. It's something people who have never experienced depression will ever truly understand.  How do I know this? Because the only reason why I'm alive today is because I could never find a way to commit suicide that wouldn't make my family feel responsible. So I continued to find a way to hang on. Each and every day. My heart goes out to all those who couldn't hang on, and to all the loved ones they leave behind.

And on that sad note, let me round up some links for you....


Books & Other Interesting Tidbits

Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones

I  ♥  Lists & Book Candy

That's all for this week. Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure. Have a great weekend!



7 comments:

  1. Cathy - The loss of Robin Williams has been such a blow, hasn't it? It's just so hard to accept.... Thanks of course for the links, and thanks for the lovely words about Williams' work. What a gift to us he was.

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  2. No one every really knows what other people are going through. I hope you continue to fight the tough fight.

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    1. You're right, Kathy. None of us knows, but we continue to wrap ourselves so tightly in our own concerns that we forget to be kind to others.

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  3. Oh, it's so sad about Robin Williams and everyone who suffers from depression. A young friend is going through some really tough times, and I see him having a hard time and know I have to be more tuned in to listening and being there, not just wrapped up in what I have to do.

    But the news that Robin Williams also had the beginning stage of Parkinson's Disease is another level of concern for him as he was worried that he wouldn't be able to work as the disease advanced. For such a brilliant person to feel he'd lose his ability of lightning wit must have terrified him.

    I, too, liked George Carlin so much. He was comedic genius and political commentator. And Billy Connelly is hilarious. I'd add Richard Pryor to the mis and today I see other comedians, including some very sharp women.

    But Robin Williams had a min tht could think of 30 references at once, historical, current, classical, street-wise, and with accents, too! It is very sad.

    Know that those of us who read this wonderful blog every day appreciate it greatly, all of the hard work and thought and excellent writing that goes into it. And the humor, too!





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    1. What you mentioned about Robin Williams was true about a comedian I listed-- Jonathan Winters. A manic, brilliant form of humor that's so fast and furious few of us can keep up.

      Thank you, Kathy, for your appreciation and participation on my blog. Those terrible years of depression are over for me, and I hope never to see them again. If I do, I've learned from my past mistakes. I *will* seek help.

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  4. Oy, my typing at this hour. My apologies. (Not a morning person doesn't begin to cover it, as my sister tells me.)

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