We Grieve

Zorba:    Why do the young die?  Why does anybody die?

Basil:      I don't know.

Zorba:   What's the use of all your damn books?  If they don't tell you that, what the hell do they tell you?

Basil:     They tell me about the agony of men who can't answer questions like yours.

Zorba The Greek - Movie



I grew up with this quote and many others, which are used to introduce pieces of music on the soundtrack album of the movie.  Since my father was a dying Greek man these words stuck hard in my brain, along with all the other quotes.  My Dad taught me to dance with this soundtrack.

Tonight when I heard that Robin Williams had died, I thought of the words, as I so often do in the face of death.  We do live in an agony, of wondering, sadness and frustration, and rely on faith that reasons, from overpopulation to religious teachings, can try to console our grief.

It is amazing that we can grieve so hard of the loss of movie stars with whom most of us never interact; but we do grieve them.  They give us their time talent and treasure and we are grateful.  We grieve the loss of their potential for more; more work, better work, more surprises and insight, more of them.  We genuinely grieve; not as family, but we grieve.

Goodnight Mr. Williams and thank you for your work, which has brought me to tears of joy and tears of emotional empathy.  You were outstanding and will always be, in the transparent form called film.  The ghostly image of your past days will live long after you and continue to entertain.  We will laugh again and thank you with every, chuckle, guffaw and bah ha ha.