George Carlin 1937-2008 or The Hippy-Dippy Weatherman
June 23rd, 2008THIS POST MAY OFFEND SOME OF YOU… SO STOP HERE IF YOU DON’T APPRECIATE GEORGE CARLIN.
George died yesterday of a heart attack at the age of 71. His look, conventional wisdom-questioning routines and unflinching devotion to all words, no matter how many letters, a perfect match for the times. He was a revered elder statesman—a revered elder statesman with an always-young mind. Never afraid to bring out the silliness and insane about society while making us think and laugh about it at the same time. He was a major influence in liberating thought in this nation. No matter who he offended, he did it evenly regardless of race, class or creed. He had a tremendous impact on my life and millions of other other post-boomers… He planted the seed of challanging authorty and having doubt about the US Gov’t’s ablity tell the truth. Apart of my youth went with him…. he will be missed by me.
Note: The following clip features language some readers may find offensive—and that nearly all George Carlin fans will find appropriate:
Seven Words You Can’t Say on TV
This is an email that my friend, Dawn, sent to me over a year ago
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we’re kids? If you’re less than 10 years old, you’re so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
You get into your teens, now they can’t hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
“How old are you?” “I’m gonna be 16!” You could be 13, but hey, you’re gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . .. . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn’t think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You’ve built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it’s a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime And it doesn’t end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; “I Was JUST 92.”
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. “I’m 100 and a half!”
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay “them.”
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.. Never let the brain idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9 Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I was really bummed to read this news this morning, too. I didn’t even know he had serious health issues. A seriously funny guy who was willing to hang it all out there.
Nicoles last blog post..blogging break 2008!