This post was supposed to be a fun post about Sasha the Husky-lab experiencing snow for the first time ever on Sunday. But then something else happened Sunday evening that I can’t ignore and it has hijacked Mind Your Dirt and preoccupied my mind. I’ll get back to my dog’s joy after this.
I didn’t even know that David Bowie had cancer. After having him in my musical world for my entire life, I simply took him for granted. Even now, I find it hard to imagine that he was not immortal. Maybe it’s because of his seemingly infinite career as an artist. I don’t know. Maybe it’s because of his Goblin King blood.
All I know is that cancer has once again stolen away into the night someone I care about. And this one is having a more profound affect on me than I ever would’ve imagined. Maybe it’s triggering memories of my father’s lost battle to cancer almost six years ago to the day (1-30-2010). Maybe I’m just at that age where the people I care about or am inspired by begin to fade from this mortal coil.
Regardless, I am affected by his loss and am having trouble shaking this feeling of emptiness and sadness. Which is strange when considering I’ve never met the man. But grief is grief nonetheless. And I know that I’m not alone today, and that helps give me some solace. Can we all do an Interwebs hug please?
I will share with you a video from Bowie’s last album in which he was well aware that it would be his last. Be warned, when put into context, this is a chilling sight to behold.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0&w=1280&h=720]
Not since Johnny Cash’s cover of NIN’s Hurt (after June Carter died) have I been so affected by a seemingly haunted message from beyond the grave. I learned six years ago that there can be tremendous beauty in death. When it wraps its cold fingers around us in its morbid embrace, we can learn of our ever-increasing ability to love. Sunday night my capacity to love has reluctantly grown even more.
I’d like to share some things that may help you as it has helped me to put a smile on my face. I can’t possibly share all of what I love about this man, there’s just way too much.
This first video is of David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing The Little Drummer Boy in 1977. I was three at the time. Bing would not survive to see this air, so I thought it appropriate in the theme of outros.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9kfdEyV3RQ?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0&w=960&h=720]
And this is possibly the most hauntingly fantastic part of the movie Labyrinth. As a small boy, I was moved by this scene and this song. To have a villain not seem tremendously like a villain helped me to redefine the childish construct of pure good and evil. Plus, the M.C. Escher sets throughout tickle me.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ9BHGX58vQ?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0&w=960&h=720]
And lastly, I’ll leave you with this sweet scene from The Flight of the Concords which is from my ABSOLUTE favorite episode (all about David Bowie). Germaine as Bowie is spot on and hilarious! So I’ll end this slideshow on a funny note in hopes that I can somehow get on with my day and the rest of my, now sadder, life.
All I can say at this point is I’m so thankful that we still have Brian Eno in this world! Aw, that just made me sad for Brian Eno. He’s probably having a rough go of it as well right now. They were such amazing collaborators over the years. Which also makes me think of David Bowie using Cut Ups, the bastard child of William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin. Two more heroes of mine.
Damn, Now I’m singing Heroes in my head! I’ll never be able to get over this will I?
We can be heroes. Just for one day.