ROBIN WILLIAMS LEGEND

My kids started school this morning and I have a slew of back to school posts I'll be rolling out these next few days but I wanted to take a moment today to pay my respects to Robin Williams. I posted this last night on Instragram after witnessing the changing of the marquee at The Improv here in Hollywood because the whole experience was too poetic not to share.

In the comments on Instagram it was mentioned that we didn't love him we loved his work. And I wholeheartedly (and respectively) disagree. For many the two are not mutually exclusive. For the great comics and the great actors and the great writers and painters and musicians, the work is beloved not because it is played precisely or written without grammatical errors, but because it murmurs with the depths of the human puppeteer. What made his "work" so great was that it was infused with human insignificance. Only the TRULY significant can approach that in a way that is genuine and beautiful and hopeful and REAL.

That's why we, as strangers, are so moved.

Because a friend is someone who holds up the mirror. In the flesh, yes, but also from the stage, from the screen, from the page, the sky...

True comedy is such a commodity - it is the most underrated form of genius, perhaps. And also, perhaps the most misunderstood. To stand on a stage and deliver jokes to an audience of judges... to spin tragedy into comedy in such a way that reminds us of and also distracts us from our flaws... what more is there to ask of another? What bigger the gift?

I've spent a lot of time reading the various stories and tributes to Robin Williams. My friend Matty tweeted this last night and then I came across the image/words his daughter Zelda posted and then I found the Norm Macdonald stream and I'm just going to leave it here because it made me laugh and cry and think, Yes. This is why we're all so sad.

It was my first stand-up appearance on Letterman and I had to follow the funniest man in the world. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

I was a punk kid from rural Ontario and I was in my dressing room, terrified. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

I was on the phone to a friend back home when the funniest man in the world ambled by. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

There was no one else on the floor. In shock, I told my friend who just walked by. Only the funniest man in the world. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

I guess he heard me say his name, cause in an instant he was at my side. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

He was a jewish tailor, taking my measurements. He went down on his knees, asked which way I dressed. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

I told my friend on the phone that the funniest man in the world was on his knees before me, measuring my inseam. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

My friend didn't believe me so I said, "Could you talk to my friend, sir. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

The funniest man in the world took the phone and for ten minutes took my friend's chinese food order. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

I laughed and laughed and it was like I was in a dream because no one else was there. No one. #RIPRobinWilliams

— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

The place was out of Moo Shoo Pork, and there was nothing he could do about it. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

He angrily hung up on my friend and I was about to thank him when he said I hadn't even tried the jacket on. #RIPRobinWilliams

— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

Then the funniest man on earth dressed me, a complete stranger, and i remember he ended with a windsor knot. #RIPRobinWilliams

— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

He spoke mostly yiddish, but when he finished he was happy with his job and turned me to a mirror to present myself to me.#RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

No one witnessed any of this. No one. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

When he left my dressing room, I felt alone. As alone as I ever remember feeling. #RIPRobinWilliams

— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

Until today. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014

...Because even though we didn't know him, this scene feels familiar. Like he was speaking yiddish to us, too.... a Jewish tailor taking all of our measurements with his invisible tape.

The place was out of Moo Shoo pork and there was nothing he could do about it. 

And that, of course, is what makes it hurt most of all.

GGC

To those battling depression, my thoughts are with you. I'm sorry you are hurting and I'm sorry we operate in a world that stigmatizes mental illness, that calls suicide "selfish", that ridicules humans (especially men) for being empathetic and emotional creatures, and makes it extremely difficult for ALL PEOPLE (especially those who are not financially established) to get help. I don't have the experience from which to write on this subject but Jenny does so I'm just going to leave this here. Peace and light to all.