Icons Dropping Like Rocks

First it was David Carradine. Then Ed McMahon. Then Farrah Fawcett. And Michael Jackson. A real shocker came with BILLIE MAYS!!! And David Eddings. And Steve McNair.

I don't know how to handle this. As a relatively young person, all of these people have been around (and famous) in my lifetime. David Carradine was the kung-fu master and the wild-west aficionado. I remember watching him from the Legend continuing to the history of Jesse James. Ed McMahon was the voice of the Tonight Show and one of the last of a dying generation of show stars. Farrah was the "blonde bombshell" that we knew from Charlie's Angels, and from her selfless submissions to tests to help others coming after her. Michael Jackson was the true King of Pop, his songs gracing every single dance and wedding I've been to. No one who watches television can honestly say that they've not heard Billie Mays shouting to them to purchase some various product with unmatched enthusiasm. Steve McNair was the great rival quarterback to our Indy Colts.

And then there's David Eddings. And it's ironic that I'm in the middle of two books he's written when it happens. He is one of the best fantasy fiction writers ever. His series "The Belgariad" is ubiquitously known to fanfic readers. And it's rare to find a fantasy reader who's never heard of Belgarath the sorcerer. My wife and I own 19 of his books. The only other author I own close to as many books of is L.E. Moddesitt Jr., another prolific fantasy athor. Add in Terry Brooks and Kevin Anderson, and We have over 50 books on my shelves.

And I don't know how to handle it. An Actor. A voice. A beauty. A Singer. A seller. An author. And an athlete. All gone, and it's not even been two weeks. I can't really comprehend it, to be honest. But I will continue reading Eddings until I've finished the books, and then I will continue to cherish his work until I join him. It's been a strange week. That's for sure.