Goodbye Heath Ledger…
January 23, 2008 by Anna Farmery
Filed under Grief
I could not believe the news about the healthy, upcoming actor Heath Ledger. I always believe that the one thing we can offer people in death, is some dignity. I don’t know if it just me but somehow seeing the body removed, seeing people interviewed about what may have happened, is not giving him and his family that dignity.
I cannot imagine grieving in public, my heart goes out to the family who are not losing an “upcoming actor” but a son, brother, family member, friend, dad. No matter the celebrity status in life, in death these people leave behind families that need our support.
So thank you Heath Ledger for sharing your talent in life, and I hope that somehow your family find a way of coming to terms with the events of last night.
Wow,Anna, just checked in to recent posts and boy, they are filled with lots and lots of heavy thoughts, important thoughts, gut wrenching thoughts.
I feel so much empathy for those people who have to grieve in public. I feel so for Heath Ledger’s loved ones. Although I am an advocate for not grieving alone, I am also aware that when grieveing becomes a side show how painful that must be. I kept hearing sound bites all night and just wanted to scream…leave them in peace.
Although I am an advocate for people having and expressing feelings, I remember talking with my daughters prior to their dad’s memorial service, and visions of Jackie Kennedy came to mind. I didn’t want the “gawkers” to see our pain, I didn’t want to cast pearl before swine. I wanted us all to deport ourselves in a dignified manner so as not to be a sideshow.
Then, you skipped to isolation…another hot button.
Now that I no longer go into the office, I work out of my home. I guess I am a people person and I can go for several days, me and my computer…with not enough human contact. That’s a new goal for me, force myself out, even if it’s in the SNOW…
We really are meant to be in community, but now that I have shifted my life work to the virtual community I sure could use assistance in making sure I still do the face to face thing as well.
I love your site, Anna, I hope you never get tired of me thanking you for all you do.
Smooch,
Beth
God bless Heath. May God have mercy on his soul. May his family, friends, and all the millions who enjoyed his life and his sharing it with all of us, soon fell the happyness that came from the life that God gave this young man. Rest In Peace Heath You will be missed.
Beth – I can honestly say I never get tired of people saying that the writing is helping! I think your comments are a wonderful addition to this blog and I appreciate them immensely. It is a real interesting aspect of modern celebrity – at what point do they return to the ability to being a “normal” human being. I live in the UK and in Princess Diana we have the ultimate example. We still miss her, we still love her and our obsession never seems to go away…yet surely we should also want her to have some dignity, and also want to protect her sons…complicated subject I know!