When Joe and I went on our anniversary vacation, it bizarrely became Death Week in the rest of the world. At least, that's how it seemed.

First, Johnny Cochran died. He was 67, I think, and when I said, "But that's young!" and others responded, "Well, it is sixty-seven," I wanted to argue, but my parents are both heading into their 60s! (Dad is 61, Mom will turn 60 next year). I don't think that argument would have made a bit of difference to anyone, since the rest of the world seems to think that's very old, which weirds me out. I'm not ready for my parents to be "old." I guess the good news is, I don't think they're ready for that, either!

As for Johnny Cochran himself, I don't have much (or, well, any) emotional investment for him personally, he's just included in the lineup since he died that week.

Next came Terry Schiavo. Her death caused a lot of people to think about themselves in that kind of situation, and to make living wills of their own so they wouldn't have to live like that. It was kind of weird to think about. I hope no one ever has to guess whether or not I understand them, whether or not I'm still "there." I haven't met anyone yet who said they'd want to continue living if they were bedridden and incapable of eating or communicating. I felt sorry for her. I'm glad for her that she's resting in peace now.

But here's what I don't get -- with all the media coverage she got, why in the world didn't anyone use her story as an opportunity to show teens and everyone else the dangers of eating disorders?? When I found out that she went into that coma because of bulimia, and that's where the brain damage came from, I just thought... that poor woman. That must totally suck to suffer from such a dangerous and horrible disorder. I wish her case had been used more as a wake-up call for everyone, to spread the message that it's important to appreciate and love your body, that you're okay at any size. Maybe in some places it was. I sure hope so, anyway.

Then Mitch Hedberg died. I couldn't believe that! One of my all-time favorite comedians ever!! A favorite in my family, actually. My brother told me about him, I told my friends, they told theirs. He was so phenomenal, and made us all laugh so much. His style was weird and crazy, and that's what always cracked me up about him. He seemed like a cool guy. Joe told me the news when I came back from my massage that day, when I was still in a sleepy daze. So, it sort of took some time to register. But yeah, Mitch Hedberg. He was only 37, too! Jesus. I loved that guy. Very sad.

And just in time to take the spotlight off Terry Schiavo, the Pope died that week, too. They said he'd been Pope for 25 years and is the only Pope these young people [the teens and 20-somethings in Italy] had ever known. I said to Joe, "Oh yeah, I guess he's the only Pope that's ever been in Popedom as long as I've been alive, too." Joe seemed to enjoy my use of the word, "Popedom." Heh.

It was bizarre to me to watch the coverage as he died. Joe and I were actually watching the news when they announced, "The Pope died only moments ago." It was pretty sad seeing everyone else so sad, but it was not sad for me personally. I disagree with almost everything the Pope stood for. And I'm not Catholic, never have been. But it was interesting and sort of strange to see so many people so affected, so saddened by his death. Crowds formed in the thousands, all for a man I never felt anything towards. I felt like an alien looking in on human civilization, removed from the actual events taking place. It was just really bizarre and interesting.

I don't mean to sound entirely cold and callous, though. I did feel for those who missed him, who were grieving his death. I just found it an interesting cultural phenomenon that something that holds such gravity for so many could simultaneously barely be seen as a blip on the radar screen for so many others. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Humans are pretty strange creatures!

So, really, what the hell? What's with so much celebrity death in the span of one week? It was kind of bizarre. But really, there are deaths everyday. And births, too. Always, in the face of everything, life goes on. Weird.