Robin, Depression, and my thoughts on both.

Oh why, there's no comprehending

And who am I to try to

Judge or explain

Oh, but I do have one

Burning question

Who told you life wasn't

Worth the fight

They were wrong, they lied

Now you're gone and we cry

'Cause it's not like you to

Walk away

In the middle of a song

© 2009 Rascal Flatts, Lyric Street Records

Robin Williams. When you hear the name, a movie or show probably pops into your head. Jumanji, Dead Poets Society, Night at the Museum, and Aladdin are a few that come to mind for me. There is no way to say it other than he was a comical genius. The stand-up he wrote, the way he performed scripted scenes, and his improv were arguably the funniest thing the comedy world has seen in a long time, if not ever. If a project was touched by Robin, it turned to pure gold-he was a comical Midas. The sad part is, though, is that he was a humble man that would graciously accept praise but never truly take it to heart. Now, I probably sound like I knew him personally. I didn’t. Growing up with him on my television, I’d like to think that I have started to see the man behind the personality that he takes on when he performs. He’s struggled publicly with drugs and alcohol, and so he was not perfect. But he was a human.

Looking through the articles on Robin’s death, I came upon a commenter that said in short ‘he chose to die’. If he was depressed, which a rep confirmed, and he committed suicide (not confirmed at the time I am writing this) that still does not mean it was his “choice.” Clinical Depression is not fun, and takes you to a place that normally you would not go. Robin needed help that he didn't get in time. This is not me saying that his family is at fault for his death, as hindsight is 20/20. The dark places that Depression takes its victims are not easy to crawl out of, and this is one case of that. Robin is, and I hate to say it, a statistic. Too many people do not get help that they need. After they die, we are sad and wish there was something we could’ve done. Most times, the signs were not obvious enough at the time. This could be a lesson, but don’t we always say that when something like this happens? What happens to the lesser-famous people who struggle with what Robin did?

For me, I will hold on to the funny quotes of Robin’s from Aladdin and his stand-up routines (This being my favorite-complete with Robin profanity). The cause of death shouldn’t change the person that lived a full life. Remember the laughter. Be angry, melancholy, or indifferent (adjectives in true Poets style), but all I ask is don’t forget the genius that Robin Williams was. We may not know why he was in a very dark place or why he couldn’t find his way out, but that doesn’t erase the milestones he achieved during his career.

DISCLAIMER: I am neither a doctor nor psychologist. These are purely my thoughts, not to be taken as gospel.

Who I Am - Jessica Andrews

I am Rosemary's granddaughter

The spitting image of my father

And when the day is done my momma's still my biggest fan

Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy

But I've got friends that love me

And they know just where I stand

It's all a part of me

And that's who I am

(c) 2000 Dreamworks Nashville

               

Throughout my childhood, I have always thought this song describes me to a tee. Every line hits me like a wrecking ball (not Miley's), even more-so as I've gotten older. Let’s break it down, shall we?

·         My grandmother’s name was Mary (close enough for childhood me). She was my favorite person, and is still at the top of the list, even though my beaux Q is tied with her.

·         I always get told I look like my dad, or that side of the family. The resemblance between baby photos is really uncanny. He’s handsome, so it’s not a bad thing I suppose.

·         My momma is always supportive of me, no matter how big or little of a challenge I am undertaking. Whether it’s a new recipe I want to try, or contemplating decisions that will impact the rest of my life like whether I should studying abroad while in college.

·         I definitely am clueless and clumsy (it’s my hair color coming out). My spatial awareness is pretty horrible, and so is my depth perception. This leads to me running into stationary, constant things like doors and walls in my house that I’ve lived in for 13 years. Everyone else in my life finds this pretty comical; I’ve come to accept the bumps and bruises and go on with life.

·         Last but definitely not least, my friends. They are the absolute best girls in the world, and actually helped hook me up with my beaux, which I am eternally grateful for. We all ended up in one group about 4 years ago, some I have known longer. To some older—and wiser—people, 4 years might seem like a short period of time, but it has been a crazy 4 years; those girls have seen me through High School. All of the ups and downs and yes even the times I went a bit sideways. I don’t know what I’d do without them!

When I think really, really hard about all the things I have in my life, there is nothing to complain about, even though I do so a lot—and I’m not proud of that. Alas, I am only human, as all people are, and without accepting the flaws there could be no acceptance of the good stuff.