Good Mourning

For those that don't know, Hunter S. Thompson killed himself last night. While I'd like to make some profound statement about his work and/or his life, I'm not especially qualified for it. However, Alan David Doane is. His words are eerily inspiring, and should be read by one and all. So go do so, then come back here.

Back? Okay.

I do want to comment on the matter of "celebrity" deaths. Even if one can accept the fact that almost all of us instinctively aspire to be famous, so much so that we can even fashion our lives in the same vein as those we worship, why the obsession with their deaths? Why do we seem to take it personal when someone we idolize dies, most especially whe it's "before their time". When Cobain shot himself millions of young adults cried out in pain. When Tupac died it effected an entire music genre and re-shaped those who would attempt to follow in his footsteps. When James Dean died, girls lost their heartthrob and boys lost their hero. The list can go on for ever, Kinison, Lennon, Elvis, Kennedy, King... but you probably get my meaning.

When a celebrity we love passes on it's almost like losing ourselves. It's somone we aspired to be, and they are no longer part of this world. What does that say about us? No matter how many people know who we are, we're going to die. No matter how much money we have, it's the one thing we can't buy. And it's fucking scary.

I won't bore you anymore than I already have with my attempt at being profound, I just wanted to make that observation.

RIP Hunter S. Thompson.

-L