from way back:

Apparently Savannah has the second-largest St. Patrick's Day celebration (after New York, I guess?)

I wonder how many places claim that.

Kansas City, for one.

Between Natasha Richardson and tonight's Mentalist, I never want to leave the safety of my seat again. I could be gravely injured on the way to the loo.

I think Kansas City claims second-largest St. Pat's parade as opposed to celebration. But yeah, that's kind of why I wonder. I mean, I would guess NY, Boston and Chicago as the top 3 (not necessarily in that order).

I saw that same article, ita, but it appears that it hasn't been confirmed anywhere else, yet. I hold out hope. For whatever reason, I've always really, really liked her. Coupled with being married to a decent guy and having kids...

Both Richardson and Ledger had (have?), to me, an overwhelming sense of warmth, ya know? I think that's what gets to me.

It has me thinking of the most profound losses (I've personally felt) when it comes to celebrity death. There are shining examples of humanity like Paul Newman, where you miss them so much but you know they had damned fantastic, blessed lives and it's gotta end some time. And then there are the ones that just shake me to the core because their stories weren't done yet, you know? Or their amazing gentle and creative spirits leave a gigantic black hole. I was bummed about Cobain, Phoenix, Belushi and even Micheal Landon. And I cried when John Lennon was shot, but I was only 10 or 11, and remember feeling acutely aware that he wasn't mine to really claim; he was of another generation.

But the ones that left me gasping for breath at the horribleness of it all were Gilda Radner and Jim Henson. I was upset for days and days, and missed work, struck by Radner's death. She had been the most influential celebrity in my life up to that point.

ETA: I just realized I left out Princess Diana. Her death really was horrible. I didn't feel particularly sad the way I did with Gilda, but I remember thinking that Diana was always going to be *present* - that I felt like I was going to be reading about her exploits for another 40 years, as I always had since I was wee. And to realize that *puff*, she was gone, just gone...strange.

I totally agree with you about Princess Diana. She wasn't going to go anywhere, and then, blammo!

Bob Marley's death got me predictably badly. Wore black armbands to school for a week, and I can still get misty thinking about what he meant to a country and so many people.

Others: Heath's a biggie--I'm still not past that and it's been over a year. Jim Henson was such a light being extinguished. Paul Newman--any memoriam for him will make me soppy for a good while.

And I'm bracing myself for Nelson Mandela. I know that will be hard. But at least he got a good long time and had a good long effect.

Yeah, Mr. Mandela will be a tough one. But like Newman, "he got a good long time and had a good effect."

Mandela is the reason I chose my university program. He earned his degree while in prison, through University of London's External Programme. :) When I was trying to decide on programs, that's what sealed the deal for me. And I was lucky enough to be in London when his statue in the square across from Westminster Abbey was erected. I got to see him give a thank you speech and just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

I can't even imagine what the death of Bob Marley meant to you. Definitely another light put out way freaking too soon.

Oh, and Arthur Ashe. That his my family. Listening to him talk after he' stopped playing tennis and just talked about being an adventurist; When asked what he was going to miss most he replied that he'd miss not being able to comb his daughters hair forever. He seemed so small and normal.

he'd miss not being able to comb his daughters hair forever

:::::damned blurry monitor::::

On a lighter note, I took a couple of cool photos at work tonight. [link] [link]

I have been warped by decades of writing by the AP Stylebook.

I blame my journalism education! Ginger is me.

I think I need to have my knees checked again. Two hours into my eight hour drive home yesterday, my right knee was in agony--sharp pains in the kneecap while going from the gas to the break (in Chicago traffic, no less.) I'm too young for this shit.

Natasha Richardson is very sad-making.