Crazy Train
Task 29, July 25 to August 1st
TODAY’s Task was written by Paul C.
“When I do go, I don’t want there to be morbid fucking crying people. I want people to celebrate my life”. Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, heavy metal rock god, scourge of bats and if the rumors are true, two white doves; a drug addict, the slightly addled reality television star and devoted husband and father, seemingly scripted a magnificent last act for his wonderfully eclectic life.
By that I mean, just three weeks prior to his passing, which was generally attributed to Parkinson’s disease and various other afflictions, Ozzy reunited for one final time with Black Sabbath in his hometown of Birmingham England to celebrate his life. Magnificent!
It was the perfect coda to his life and his life’s passion, and it got me thinking about how I would orchestrate the last days of my life, which led to an epiphany: WHY WAIT?
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Let me explain. I’m not a religious person, a dissatisfaction that dates back to my years at St. Thomas Day School in Medina, Washington, where each day began with a long, grueling and mandatory chapel service; and I hate funerals—the first two I attended were those of my father and grandmother, and both were more solemn than celebratory…
So I’ve come to believe that there’s no point in delaying a celebration of life—one should live it day to day.
So let me start by celebrating the people in my past, beginning with my loving parents who didn’t necessarily care for each other, but doted on me; to my saintly grandmother, and neighbors and school friends and girls I crushed on, to teachers and significant others…
And there are the people from my creative life—my friends at KABC, especially Donna who took a young cocky 22 year old under her wing and let him produce a daily live TV show— to Arsenio Hall, a kind man who sent a floral arrangement to my father’s funeral so large it could have hung around a horse’s neck, and to the Anderson’s who were and remain my TV family and beyond…and how can I forget to embrace the folks who helped me transition to my second career at Southwest Airlines! And what a transition it was! In tv we used to say “we never see our audience”, but as a flight attendant I saw thousands of people a week…
At any rate, I’m not going anywhere, but because no one knows what lies ahead, I am intent on celebrating with everyone I’ve ever had the pleasure to know in my crazy life.
TASK: I love you all, friends and foe, for what you brought into my life. And as I celebrate you, so should you celebrate those who have made a difference in your lives—visit them, call them, text them, send them a card. Celebrate life while you have life!