Goodbye, George
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George Carlin died yesterday at age 71.
I read a tweet from Scoble and learned George Carlin had died. I was on the phone to my brother Chris within five seconds. I asked him if he was sitting and had heard the news. He hadn't. I told him.
Chris said, "Fuck!"
I replied, "Fuck!"
It seems apt.
I'm upset and saddened by Carlin's death.
No offense dad, but in a weird way, that goofy old George Carlin record was one of the first adult male influences in my young life. Growing up in Berkeley, after my parents divorce, it was my mother, my older brother, and me. Chris and I listened to George Carlin's record together over and over.
Carlin is the reason why at 5 I knew the 7 words you couldn't say on television. It's probably the first list I memorized outside of school, and can still recite it for you today.
Carlin is the reason why when I met my dad's girlfriend on a visit to Phoenix at age 5, I told her my teddy bear's name was Fuck Face. Dad still tells that story in certain company. I love it.
After a pretty big shake up in my personal life a couple years ago, when I went to reconnect with some old, classic, "Phil" things, I bought the most recent Carlin album I could find and listened to it repeatedly.
His unusual observations, his exposition on the English language, his cynicism, his obscenity, his brash political commentary, his manliness... the man himself, was an inspiration and constant delight to me.
George is an American treasure. He will be missed.
Trackback: http://philsown.org/2008/06/goodbye-george/trackback
Comments
dp
Jun 25, 2008
fuck face? You had a stuffed animal and at 5 yrs old... fuck face? Awww that's such a warm and touching story! (rolling eyes)
HEY... LONG TIME NO SEE! How are you dude?
miss you like chocolate!
dp
I have fond memories of watching the early HBO specials at my parents' home growing up. One of my favorite Carlin monologues included "Could be meat, could be cake.... Meatcake!" Hilarious man.
The bit is one of my favorite's too. It's "Ice Box Man" and I think Chris was just mentioning to me that it's on the "A Place For My Stuff" album, which is also great.
I think that one has the bit about all the stuff in your house, then taking a smaller set on vacation to an island, then a smaller set to the other side of the island, then an even smaller set to a party... or something like that. Great stuff.
Yes, at age 5, that was the name of my bear. He was huge :-)
Dad
Jul 12, 2008
How interesting to finally hear the genesis of the "Fuck Face the Bear" story. I called the other person in that story, and told her where to find it on the web, so she could enjoy it, too.
How to Put Your Face Next to Your Comment
Jun 23, 2008
So, yes, after I heard it this morning, I couldn't wait to see if you had heard. It was weird. I was in a patient's room, setting them up to fly back to Guatemala with this room full of Spanish people, and even they were upset by the news. I grew up with him, too. Going to miss his witty cynical ways (even if I am typically an empathic person ;) )