posted June 23 2008 10:37 AM                

George, you will be missed.

posted June 23 2008 12:57 PM                

My mom used to say that part of getting old is getting used to all the
great people in your life dying. I guess I'm not old enough to have
gotten used to it yet.

I've always thought George was a little off his game in recent years...
he sort of stopped being funny and was mostly just angry. I imagine
it's hard to be the hippy dippy weatherman for 40 years and not become
a little bitter.

posted June 23 2008 01:30 PM                

A few weeks ago, one of my co-workers died. She was 35, about 10 days later, another friend's husband died, age 44. In fact, it seems like I'm hearing about someone I know or am connected with dying, at least once a week now. My mother said that would happen, but she said it that it usually didn't start until you reached late 50s, early sixties. I guess she was wrong about that. I've had people tell me you get used to it - I think they may be saying that just to make you deal with it. I'm still not used to it, don't think I ever will get used to it.

George may have not been the funniest near the end, but he certainly contributed to the laughter in this world, especially in his earlier years, and that's a very good thing.

posted June 23 2008 02:24 PM                

I moved to the DC area in 1971, just out of school.  George Carlin was my favorite comedian back then, and I have several of his comedy albums from that era.  While I would have to agree that he had gone past funny to angry in his older years, the amount of laughter he gave me in my younger years will always endear him to me.

As for losing friends, my mother was here visiting last week.  She finally got an opportunity to spend some time with my closest friends, who have lived here in Rehoboth for 20 years.  When she was leaving yesterday, she said "I'm so glad that you have such good friends close by to support you.  All of my closest friends are dead."  She is 75 and the baby of 10 children--she has watched all of her siblings die and is now part-time caregiver for her last remaining sib.  Because many of her friends were older than she, she has watched them all go as well.  It has to be a terribly sad and lonely feeling to see everyone around you dying and to attend funerals on a regular basis.

The only time I have experienced anything like that was during a period from the late 80s through the mid-90s when I lost a LOT of close friends and acquaintances to AIDS.

posted June 23 2008 09:46 PM                

"I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm
listening to it - George Carlin"

Sorry George, not this time.