This morning, I turned on Good Morning America and as they were rambling on about the economy, I saw the ticker at the bottom of the screen, "George Carlin dies at age 71 from heart failure." (Or at least it was something close to that. I mostly remember my giant gasp from that moment of my life and not so much the words I was reading.)

I first saw George Carlin during an SNL special in which they replayed his baseball vs. football routine. Wow, I thought, I wonder how it must feel to be so smart and so funny at the same time.

I then saw him in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (another cult classic in my book), and I instantly thought, wow, I wondered how it must feel like to be that cool. (I was anything but cool.)

In 1992 I came across George Carlin Jammin' in New York on HBO. I ran to my VCR, popped in a tape, and hit the record button. I watched the entire show while trying to catch my breath from laughing. I had never before seen somebody who could use such obscene language in such an articulate and intelligent way. And the things that he said... brilliant. When it was over, I hit rewind and played it again, and again, and again. I memorized the entire show. It made so much sense to me in so many ways. It was a major part of shaping my opinions about the world. (The government is filled with prick wavers (damn Republicans). George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Colon Powell suspiciously have names that when put together result in sexual innuendo. And the planet really is fine, but the people are screwed.) I've been reciting bits from that show for years.

After that, I became a Carlin fanatic. I watched all of his shows, read his books, religiously followed his interviews, and fantasized about what it would be like to have George as my friend. How cool would that be to call him up on the phone, invite him to a BBQ, and have him show up? Then I could just spend hours listening to his witty words of wisdom. (Yes, that's the kind of thing I fantasize about. No half-naked men or women in my daydreams. No million dollar yachts. Just give me some interesting people to talk to and laugh with, and I'm a happy gal.)

So unless we get to meet someday in that giant electron, I fear that my dreams of meeting George and having a witty, laughter-filled conversation with him are over. And meanwhile, the world has lost one of its most brilliant citizens.

So this morning, as I drink my soy chai tea latte, I'm making a toast to big George. Cheers man! I'll miss you.

Labels: Inspiring People I Admire