I have noticed in news stories lately, whether on radio, on television, on websites, or in print, that every time someone's death is announced, one of three words is invariably used. Everyone, it seems, is iconic, legendary, or beloved nowadays. Some of the announcements manage to work in all three adjectives. Why is that, I wonder? Is anyone with the least-bit recognizable name or who has achieved some measure of popularity in life automatically iconic, legendary, or beloved? I think not, but then I am not part of Generation Alpha, Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen X, or even the Baby Boomers. No, dear reader, I am an official dinosaur, and having been born before World War II began (at least on this side of the pond) I am therefore a member of what is called The Silent Generation.
As you may have noticed, I am anything but silent.
Members of my generation are shuffling off this mortal coil at what seems to me to be an alarming rate. I hope I am going to be around for some time yet.
One day last week I realized that my 83rd birthday was exactly 10 months ago and my 84th birthday was exactly two months hence. My mind went into overdrive and I suddenly realized that my age in the decimal system that day was 83.83, which I found satisfyingly symmetrical.
No, I am not weird. Why do you ask?
I further hope that someone, if only here in blogworld, will remember this post and refer to me after my demise as--wait for it--iconic, legendary, and/or beloved.
Maybe I am a little bit weird.
I’m so relieved (jk) and grateful for your quick response. Thank you, Janice. My brain cells just realized that the jab in jabblog are probably your initials.
ReplyDeleteThe "bubonic".
ReplyDeleteThe one, the only. Thank you, Tasker (I think).
DeleteOf cours3e you will be remembered as all of the above... especially weird. As far as I'm concerned weird is the most important of all.
ReplyDeleteYou have a knack for seeing more than was intended! Thank you, Emma (again, I think)!
DeleteWell, I was born in Oct. 1939 and I thought the war started few days before that.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, the war began in Europe on September 1, 1939, and Canada by extension was involved as soon as the Germans attacked Britain. I completely forgot about Canada’s being on this side of the pond too when I made that statement. I was born in March 1941. The U.S. did not enter the war until December 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I am considered a “pre-war” baby here. Thank you, Red, for reminding us that in actuality I was not.
DeletePerhaps everyone being iconic, legendary, and beloved is confined to American journalism. Many people here are easily impressed and tend to gush. I used to read everything YP posted but nowadays i make only an occasional foray. Our political views being quite different, plus I don’t find him as amusing as he thinks he is. I’m glad you will remember what I have written today. Thank you, Rachel.
ReplyDeleteRobert you are certainly legendary and beloved but if you would prefer it, on your demise I'll call you ordinary and forgettable.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I have never seen your post which referred to my comments on my friend Amanda's retirement, 5 years ago. I saw it today. Thanks for your kind words.
I do believe our blogs may mean more to the world than our paid jobs because they exist in a world of supportive relationship.
How on earth did you land on a post of mine from 2019 without meaning to? (I found it by entering the word Amanda in the search box at the top of the blog.). I have only a vague memory of having written it but it was good to find it again. Thank you, kylie.
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