I Miss You Robin Williams

It's been a very sad week.

Monday morning, one of my lifelong heroes was found dead. Robin Williams committed suicide. I was at first unable to believe it. As untouchable as people in films, on tv, on records seem to be in real time, it's pretty much just as unreal if they die. I'm trying to keep myself comforted by that notion. It doesn't really work though. Because despite how much Robin meant to me and countless others, he was still very much a real person, with real problems, a family, children and friends who loved him very much. And you can't not think about it.

Having been a kid through all of the 90s I feel really like I was graced with some of the greatest family films ever made. Maybe every kid who was allowed to watch movies growing up feels this, but I feel like in particular I owe a debt of gratitude to Robin Williams. I feel like we all do. He lent his humor not just to adults, but to children and people everywhere. It was this universal language he spoke. To my family, he was like another uncle, a cousin. He played babysitter to my sister and I. He got us through some of the toughest times of our lives with laughter and wisdom. He gave all people another perspective.

I'll repeat what I said the morning after I learned the news. I can't find a better way to say it again.

"Daniel Hillard, Batty, Genie, Mr. Keating, Armand Goldman, Peter Banning, Garp, Chris Collins, Leslie Zevo, Andrew Martin, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Patch Adams, Robin Williams, these people changed my life. Suicide, case by case will never be fully understood. I do not understand, I don't want to accept it. But I do know everyone has a dark place and not one they always share with others. I can accept that. This man leaves behind his family, and I feel like we're all a part of that family. I know I'm not feeling this alone.

All of those people I mentioned above, he was all of those people. And they are all a part of me. Robin Williams, I will always remember like this. They will always be there, and so will he. My second dad, my friend, you will always be with me. I will see you laughing."

In the back of my notebook I keep all kinds of scribbles, lists, ideas. A "Robin Williams" or "TOYS" series was first on my list of buttons I wanted to make as a set actually. "TOYS" is certainly on my top 5 films of all time list, if not maybe my absolute favorite. Between the cast and crew and direction, the whole package just melts my soul. If you have never seen it, or have not seen it since 1992, I definitely recommend giving it a viewing. It's not hard for me to watch this movie and see in many ways how it has shaped me.

I don't like that it is now 4 days later after his passing that I am making some Robin Williams themed buttons. But either way, I am honored to, and excited to. I am excited to sit at my desk and play with prints of this person that I adore sooo much, and create these little badges of honor that I can share with others who maybe feel like I do. I kind of want to cry looking at them, but actually I just can't stop smiling.

I just created these today. They all have a lot of love put into them. It's just the beginning. I will post some soon to my etsy page for those of you far away who may like a button or two!

www.etsy.com/shop/memorabilia1

It's so sad that a person so lovely and so loving could be hurting so badly. I hope when people think of him they don't see him swallowed up in darkness. I hope they see the faces on these buttons, smiling, laughing, being silly, giving the world all of these characters to help enrich everyone's life! This is the Robin I will always think of.

I dj a radio show at local Cleveland State University WCSB, called "Pleasure Leftists". It's on Thursdays 9am-11am. This week I dedicated my show to Robin Williams. It's filled with clips from all of my favorite movies of his. If you would like to listen, the broadcast will be on archive on the WCSB website from now until next Thursday morning 8-21. I will probably put it up for download at some point, but until then, please follow this link to enjoy!!

"Pleasure Leftists" radio program "Robin Williams"

Let us all celebrate this rare individual!!