Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Robin Williams in my Life

When I was a young man I loved Jonathan Winters, later Robin Williams reminded me so much of him and Robin did know the debt he owed to Jonathan for his comedic style. As I got older I started to like more scripted comedy. I loved Jonathan Winters less but really never lost my love for Williams. I found him a little annoying and abrasive at times but never did he fail to bring out the fun loving child inside of me. As I aged I realized more and more that I loved to watch this man work his magic on my aging self.

Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters are
seen backstage at the TV Land Awards in 2008

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article1198908.html#storylink=cpy


Robin had blinding talent. I appear to be the only person in the world who enjoyed watching him as Popeye. I don't much like Hollywood style extravagant movies so I forgave most of this and just admired Robin's talent. This is also one of the first movies I watched on Christmas Day, which is the day my mom died. I used to spend Christmas Day watching movies (at $1 a movie) to get my mind off of my loneliness on this day. I don't think I would ever have chosen to watch Popeye in a theater except for my quest to find movies that were not emotional.

Hook is one of my favorite movies as I always thought it so meaningful to my life. Don't think I am witless but I cried like a baby the first time I saw Hook... it was one of those movies where I had to stay through the credits just to dry my eyes. Again, I am fairly alone in loving this movie and honestly have never again watched the full movie in one sitting (but many times in parts) for fear it will not live up to the expectations of the first experience I had with it in the theater. I think now I will watch it again and immerse myself to see just what it was that grabbed me. I know it was because I felt like an orphan, a lost boy, at the time. Perhaps I never really understood this theme in Peter Pan until this movie. I remember thinking in the theater "Oh, I get it now." And Robin Williams, he was my guide.

I liked him more in movies than I did in Mork And Mindy which I never really liked to watch that often. It was rare when I would enjoy a live audience sitcom. I disliked Laverne and Shirley, another spinoff from Happy Days. I most enjoyed Happy Days in the first two seasons single camera setup. When it changed to live audience, my interest slowly faded.

Robin Williams went on to be one of the great actors of all time. My last moments watching him were on the David Letterman show after his heart bypass. He was inspirational on these shows as was David Letterman. I am so sorry to see that clinical depression may be the culprit behind his death. I suffered this problem in my early life and Robin Williams was one of the moments, again Hook, that helped me understand my problem and completely conquer it.

I knew I had depression conquered when I was harassed and threatened for almost a full year at my last job. I made it through this period defiantly challenging depression head on. I was depressed a lot but I came out the winner. Clinical depression was conquered and I never got as depressed as when my mother died, or when I got a divorce. My divorce was actually a training ground for controlling my moods.

I know some small part of what Robin Williams went through, wearing his heart on his sleeve... at least that is the way I viewed him. I understand.

If you have depression... please understand it does not always have to rule you. You can defeat it with the right help. I got that help. They even have drugs now that actually work. If you feel bullied, that too is overcome by time and in distancing yourself from the bully. You can do this. I was trapped in my own situation for the year because I had to work at least one more year to retire with benefits. You may be stuck by your age or something similar. Things can change. Work to increase your control over your life then distance yourself when you can.

I will miss Robin Williams for his inspiration. We need people that sacrifice their emotions and personal circumstances to inspire.

BUT OH, TO BE FREE. NOT TO HAVE TO GO ‘POOF! WHAT DO YOU NEED, POOF! WHAT DO YOU NEED, POOF! WHAT DO YOU NEED?’ TO BE MY OWN MASTER. SUCH A THING WOULD BE GREATER THAN ALL THE MAGIC AND ALL THE TREASURES IN ALL THE WORLD. BUT WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT? LET’S GET REAL HERE, THAT’S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. GENIE, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE HUMMUS.” -GENIE IN ALADDIN



in One Hour Photo

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