Posted by galkeepinon on September 17, 2003, at 0:42:08
This may come across silly to some~but by no means is it silly to me.
I watched a special tribute to John Ritter tonight. I grew up in the 80's watching *Three's Company* But there is more to this post then how it starts. I had been feeling sad over his loss and I personally never knew the man. Since he died, I have continued to shake my head in disbelief as I'm sure many people around the world have. His death was a total shock, and a total loss!!!
At the end of this tribute on tv, I was sobbing. I was sobbing because the world lost a good man, a family man, a person who gave so many people love, happiness and laughter. I cried because his daughter will not have him to walk her down the aisle. I cried because the young people and everyone who had the privelege to know and work with him were deeply affected by his death but also deeply touched by this man. The young ones were blessed to know and work with him in the prime of their youth. As I cried, I was trying to feel~trying to put together why this has upset me so much and I was not even related to John Ritter. I tied it to my father issues, like it was my own father who died~a father who right now we are not speaking (his decision). I tied it to the question or realization if God takes the good people, and I'm a bad person so that's why I'm still alive. (I have made mistakes in my life that I would gladly do over a different way, knowing I can only be responsible for how I react and how I treat people~the rest is up to them) I tied it to: 'this man died, he brought so much laughter and love to a lot of people and no he is gone, gone just like that'. I tied it to how SO VERY VERY short life is. How you never know when *it is time*
All these things made me think a lot. I am grieving the loss of John Ritter! I'm hoping that whoever does read this post understands how I feel and what I mean behind it.
I was just crying when that TV tribute ended and honestly (and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say it, but I'm going to) I stood in front of the mirror for about 5 minutes just looking myself in the eyes, thinking this man brought a lot of joy to the lives' he touched~I so want to do the same. And I'm not talking about little things, I'm talking about learning to be selfless, accepting people for who they are without judging them or causing a *riff*, hurt, or anger. I'm talking about, for me, not taking life so seriously and making the most of it. I have been very un[roductive recently in my personal life (besides this board ;)) and if you don't see me post much in the future it is because I need to start making my dreams come true.
In conclusion:
I feel for everyone his life touched, and I shall never forget the feelings I had tonight as I watched that TV special. Yes, he is gone now, but there is so much more to his death than the physical aspect and the traces a human being leaves behind for other human beings: thoughts, feelings, introspect, priorities, health, and most of all~~life. I have never been touched or *gotten through to* about life being short as I did after I watched this tribute. I believe that God does work in mysterious ways and there is a reason for everything, and that there are no mistakes, just lessons to be learned.
As I write, I am turning numb because I am still in shock. Obviously John Ritter's death brought up issues for me, personally, and only I know what they are. I wanted to post about this because I am grieving, I am grieving my past, which will never come again. I now really understand the meaning of this quote: *Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a Mystery, today is a Present, that's why they call it a gift*
I am grieving for the young people (both personally and professionally) that he made such an impact on. I truly think that John Ritter was a great example of life, living, and loving, struggles, triumphs, kindness, patience, understanding. For some reason I didn't even get this upset when *Mike Brady* died. lol
This is so much more than grieving over someone who made us laugh on TV~for me, it is about what I learned in watching this tribute on tv.
~life is short
~focus on the positive
~hope
~belief
~gratitude
~patience
~truly be kind
Well, I think I wrote enough for now. I really hope that John Ritter is looking down and watching just how is death affected so many people, and more importantly his life, how he treated people, and how much joy he truly brought to this world. I would bet that I'm not the only human being *out there* who was affected by his death, nor possibly changed by it.
See what one human being can do for the life of a total stranger?
God Bless you John Ritter and thanks for the laughs........................
poster:galkeepinon
thread:260885
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030913/msgs/260885.html