Farewell Bernie, we hardly knew ye
Posted: Saturday, August 09, 2008 10:50 AM by Denise Hazlick
Filed Under:
Pop culture, Tributes, Celebrities
I awakened early this morning to the news that comedian Bernie Mac had died at age 50 of pneumonia. Mac, born Bernard McCullough, was hospitalized late last week and, despite suffering from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease, he was expected to be released and to recover. All of which made this morning's news that much more surprising and sad.
In the Entertainment news business, we are forced to prepare for the passing of stars. We prepare slide shows, write tributes and the like so that when the unhappy moment occurs, we are ready. I was not ready for this.
We are never ready when someone, even someone we only knew a little, or in this case, from his body of work and public persona, dies unexpectedly. It reminds us of our own mortality, and the randomness of life.
Six weeks ago, I participated in a triathlon in Sunriver, Ore. It was a hot day and as I waited on the banks of the reservoir before the start of my swim wave, I chatted with some of my fellow 40-44-year-old age groupers, commenting on the unexpected warmth of the water (if 65 degrees counts as warm) and helping some zip up their wetsuits.
About a quarter of the way through my mile swim, a jet ski sped from the shore out to the swimmers -- an indication of someone in distress. About two-thirds of the way through, word started spreading among the swimmers that the swimmer in distress had died. As I ran out of the water and ran for my bike, I couldn't help but wonder if he was one of the men I had spoken to before the race. Did I help him zip up his wetsuit? Even if I hadn't, he had been standing there next to me, nervous with anticipation, waiting, like me, to begin this great exercise in adrenaline, sweat and release. An event that can make you feel so alive. Just like that -- gone. I haven't really shaken those thoughts yet.
So on this Saturday morning, as we remember Bernie Mac, his great body of work (I know I loved "The Bernie Mac Show" and his work in the "Ocean's" movies) and the depth of sadness being felt by the family who loved him, please remember Patrick Findlay, an age grouper from Renton, Wa., who also left a body of work and a family who loved him. And make the most of the fabulous day -- each and every one of them is precious, and fabulous.
