Robin Williams

[R. Pare]

Not a racer, but still.... Holy Crap.

May you finally be rid of whatever demons haunted you, Mork.

[racerdad2]

Sad News, indeed.... a fine line between genius & madness. It appears he crossed it. Godspeed Robin. You brought many smiles to many faces.

[Brian C in Az]

Unfortunately, he discovered that money and fame are not the source of true happiness and contentment.

[Pop Chevy]

Amen to that !

[AriChase]

This is the first "celebrity death," though I think we can all agree that this more like a death of loved one, that has really hit me. He is so gifted. I remember what he said in the Aristocrats, I believe, that great comedians are usually burdened with great sorrow, and that it often helps them express on film what they truly lack in their hearts. Mannnnnnnnn

[no-cones]

Arichase, well said

[reidhazelton]

Let's take this as best we can, and try to find something to take from it. Be kind to one another, you never know who might seem fine, but is fighting some deamons we will never see. Truly sad, and even sadder that this happens thousands of times a day and we never hear about it. If someone is looks down, pick them up, you never know the impact you can have on them.

[marc sproule]

my professional training was in clinical psychology. did everything but a dissertation for a ph.d.

my internship was with the v.a. drug counselor. the nurse on our ward was one of the nurses that ken kesey used in the composite that was "big nurse" in "one flew over the cuckoo's nest".

for a lot of different reasons, i decided that being a clinician was not for me. too many people who were far too impressed with their certitude that they could explain human behavior.

when r. pare mentioned demons, i knew it had to be suicide.

i read the usa today story.

sent an email to my munchkin. she's a marin sheriff deputy.

it will be interesting to hear what she has to say. probably the same kind of reaction as her dad.

this is what my munchkin used to look like......before she grew up and had to start dealing with "real life". i liked it better when she didn't have to deal with this kind of real life.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/46681980@N03/14130956187

https://www.flickr.com/photos/46681980@N03/14317526265

[AriChase]

Let's take this as best we can, and try to find something to take from it. Be kind to one another, you never know who might seem fine, but is fighting some deamons we will never see. Truly sad, and even sadder that this happens thousands of times a day and we never hear about it. If someone is looks down, pick them up, you never know the impact you can have on them.

Well said. I agree. I had a long struggle with depression myself and it is always nice when someone makes you smile or takes time for you.

[R. Pare]

"Live at the Met"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueDu_gZ_1ZA

At the Roxi (1978):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsIh5z7oYyY

[Phil Picard]

Don't know who said it but.... "my childhood just got punched in the stomach" ...felt appropriate

[dc]

Depression is a werewolf that wants to lock you in a room and kill you.

[R. Pare]

Just read the we also lost Lauren Bacall today - to old age, thankfully.

[marc sproule]

not surprisingly charlie rose did a robin williams retrospective this evening. hilarious and extremely poignant too. vignettes from past shows together.

i've never seen charlie laugh so hard.

one of the most poignant moments was when they were discussing one of robin's returns from rehab. robin was saying how glad he was to still be alive.

my daughter..see above..said she listened to the press conference in her office, just behind the wall where the podium was.

[mmi16]

Depression is a werewolf that wants to lock you in a room and kill you.

Couple that with knowledge that you have a wasting disease -

https://celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/ce...184324914.html

[racerdad2]

Well, IF you believe in reincarnation (life's recycling center) Robin will be back

Life & Movies are a lot alike. Hang on until the last credits role. There just may be a surprise happy ending !

[Brian]

The news that he had Parkinson's brings it into perspective for me. Parkinson's is caused by Lewy bodies in the brain which impair neurotransmitter function. It can present as a mostly physical impairment but also can be significantly dementia related and be either Parkinson's Disease Dementia or Lewy Body Disease. I became somewhat of a layman's expert as my father had what was probably, in hindsight, Parkinson's Disease Dementia for 7 years. The only way to get a positive diagnosis is a post-mortem, so naming the ailment definitively is impossible while the patient lives. My father suffered greatly for the last three years of his life, was unable to walk, turn over in bed, hold or read a book, even watch television. There is no question in my mind that if I develop the same disease I will, at an appropriate time and place, end my life under my terms.

Parkinson's is seen as a simple trembling, a physical ailment and not really a mental disease, but a degree of mental impairment is present in around a third of cases, and more so when the disease begins at a more advanced age. The early symptom is a simple slowing of the thought process, and for a genius of imagination like Robin Williams the knowledge that he was almost sure to lose that, and to know that he was losing that and to watch that happen to himself, would have been a fate worse than death, in a very literal sense. Also, Parkinson's creates changes in brain chemistry that make moderate or severe depression a key symptom - and a very real problem.

Rest in peace, Robin, and say "Hey" to my Dad for me.

Brian

[racerdad2]

Thx Brian ! You bring clarity to Robin's seemingly untimely death. I'm with you on ending this on my terms. I've watched too many friends & family live too long....

Hey Robin ! Thx for the memories

[rickb99]

...Parkinson's is seen as a simple trembling, a physical ailment and not really a mental disease, Brian

My brother has Parkinson's and it's getting worse every year. No mental impairment yet that we can see. He still goes to work but is wondering how long that will last.

[R. Pare]

Robin's explanation of golf:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4