Thread: "Everything has its time, and everything ends..."

Elisabeth Sladen died this week. She was 63. Cancer. Almost no-one knew. She kept it very quiet, not wanting a fuss. How very like her.

Lis played Sarah Jane Smith on Doctor Who. She played the role for a few years in the 70's, but was beloved by fans and loved the fans in return. She came religiously to conventions. She was extremely protective of the role and her duty as a role model, turning down lucrative deals for products she didn't think healthy or proper for children. She helped keep the show alive for the many years it was off the screen and was the first companion brought back when the show began its triumphant return.

I met Lis twice, at conventions. Years apart. She remembered my name the second time, and apologized for not remembering my last name when signing an autograph. She was a lovely, graceful, gracious woman, who looked twenty years younger than she was and acted forty years younger.

Lis also did something amazing: she became, once again, a hero to an entire generation of children thirty years after she did it the first time. She was beloved. On the big Who fan forum Gallifrey Base her memorial thread garnered 4000 posts in less than 24 hours, and the range of those expressing their loss ranged from children to grandparents, students to housewives to CEOs to film and television professionals. A charitable drive set-up in her name has amassed over 10,000 dollars in just a few days.

The new series of Doctor Who begins tomorrow. Once more I will be, for a glorious hour on a Saturday, a seven year old again. But the seven year old will be a little sadder this time.

Goodbye, Lis. I loved you. We loved you. You will be missed. But you will not be forgotten.

I am truly sorry for your loss. I know that sometimes, characters on a TV show can sometimes be like extended family. You would mourn for a certain actor/actress as if they were a favored cousin, or sibling.
In 1994, Shannon Kay Wilsey died. She, known as Savannah, was the number one porn star at the time. I knew her a decade before she became famous. I had sat in her kitchen, only as a friend, and had swapped jokes with her. Her roomie, Summer, was the reason I was there. Summer and I were running buddies. Like Shannon, Summer was a fledgling in the business.

I took Shannon’s death as I would a sibling’s. She was just an object of lust to many, but I had made her laugh. I had shared snacks with her. Her loss hurt.

You have my sympathy.

Yeah, George, I can relate to how a death like that can affect you -- especially if you associate the person with your childhood. I grew up listening to this baseball announcer, Skip Caray -- and when he died a couple of years ago, I was really surprised by how sad it made me feel. As far back as I can remember, I listened to him on radio and on TV -- in the car with my dad or on the clock radio in my room. A lot of good memories. Listening to ballgames just isn't the same to me. So, sorry buddy.

Thanks, guys.

One of my friends, and two of my classmates died this year. I did feel too sad about them. But I think everything has a purpose. So, accept it and try to be happy.