It's very sad when...

one of my childhood 'heroes' pass away. The death of Gary Coleman left me very melancholy, I wasn't a huge fan, but did watch the show religiously when I was younger. One takes these people for granted because they always seem to be 'there.' I never thought twice about Gary Coleman all these years, except when I heard him on Howard Stern or The Insider, and even then I thought the guy was a tragic figure, I felt bad for him for all that he's been thru.

When I learned he died I felt like a little bit of more of my childhood was gone, I know it's part of getting older and eventually everyone does die. What makes it more poignant is that he was only 42, heck I'm 41 myself. It's very tragic to lose a young person, and I feel extremely sad for his family for they have outlived their son. Talking to parents and reading about parents who lose their children when they are still alive is so sad, for obvious reasons. It's alot to put anyone thru yet alone a parent.

Then I look thru all the people who died this year (thanks AOL galleries). James Whitmore--Palmer Courtland on All My Children, my mother lived and died by this soap opera, I used to have to tape it for her when I was little, then I actually started watching it and in college used to watch it everyday, even though I hadn't seen it in 10 years. That's the great thing about soaps, you can miss them for 'x' years and after a few days watching it you're caught up!

Pernell Roberts died this year also, I barely remember him from Bonanza, but I do remember him from Trapper John, MD--a show I watched in passing but not so much so to say I have a connection.

John Forsythe, always rememebr that voice in Charlie's Angels. I remember being a little kid and wanting to know who the hell that guy was. Although many people told me it was John Forsythe, I never knew who that was until along came Dynasty, then I thought 'wow that guy does sound like Charlie..."

Rober Culp, although he was in so much stuff, I remember him from the tv show "The Greatest American Hero," which in retrospect was a crappy show, but I always remember him being the dude in the costume's 'sidekick' of sorts. That guy used to fly, but never could control it, very 'heady' stuff for a 10 year old...

Peter Graves died--again he was in so much stuff, I always remember him from Mission Impossible and one of my all time favorite movies Airplane! I think that movie re-introduced him to a new generation of people that may have forgotten about him. I know it did for me, he was hilarious as Captain Oveur.

Merlin Olsen passed away due to cancer. I can never forget watching Little House on the Prairie, I seemingly grew up with half pint, Mary, Nellie Olsen, Albert, Charles, and the rest of them. Michael Landon passed away decades ago, but his productions were all so heartwarming and always evoked emotion. I can't tell you how many times I bawled during some of the episodes on Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, Touched by an Angel. I digress, because Merlin Olsen, I vaguely remember him when he played for the Rams, I remember him more as the actor, this big dude who played this caring character, I guess that's why the program worked so well becuse of the oxymoron between the guy and character.

Corey Haim--definitely one of my contemporaries, again very tragic since he died so young. THose 1980's teen movies really portrayed the angst and emotions we seemingly felt at that time. It's funny to watch them now, because even though I feel dumb for saying it, we could all picture ourselves as one of the characters dealing with the issues the character may have been dealing with. Don't even get me started on the John Hughes movies!

These are only a handful of the notables that have dies this year, but when I see them as a list a little bit of my childhood is gone. I realize this is something that will happen all throughout the rest of my time on this planet, they only thing that if guaranteed is death right?

Sorry to ramble on, but does everything have to be about Real Estate all the time?