Monday, September 29, 2008

Death and Paul Newman.

I heard that Paul Newman passed away on Friday

In no particular order, off the top of my head my top-five Paul Newman movies are:
- Butch Cassiday and the Sundance Kid
- The Hustler
- The Color of Money
- Cool Hand Luke
- Nobody’s Fool

If you haven’t heard about his death, then you’re a pop-culture retard. But, this entry isn’t about how great Paul Newman was, if you want that you can read it here, here or here.

Nope. This entry is about death.

When I heard Mr. Newman passed away, I read that he was surrounded by his family and close friends, including his wife of 50 years, actress Joanne Woodward.

What a crazy picture. Being surrounded by your sobbing, long-faced loved ones as you take in your last breath.

Seems a bit surreal if you ask me. Maybe it won't be, however, if/when I continue to get older.

Eventually, everyone we know is going to have to go through something exactly like this, including ourselves.

Knowing that we’re going to die. Knowing that the next breath may be our last.

When? Where? Why? How? Those are the unknown answers to this fascinating puzzle.

Hell, it’s what keeps me moving daily and trying to achieve my personal goals in life.

In a way, it’s frightening.

In a way, it’s a bit depressing.

In a way, I suppose it’s necessary.

I wonder what people discuss during that last hour in their life?

I wonder if you discuss your past, your childhood and your dreams that went unfulfilled?

I wonder if you talk about your past loves, your children growing up, all the different sights you’ve seen and witnessed while on this Earth?

I wonder what Paul Newman and his family were talking about that last hour before his death?

No one will really knows.

But I can bet you one thing.

Even though he was a major movie star, I’m 100% certain that it wasn’t about work.

5 comments:

Kameron said...

Few months ago, I saw Slap Shot for the first time since I was a teenager. It was even funnier now, because I understood more of the jokes than at 15 years old.

Brian Z said...

Paul Newman was a classy guy. A Simpson's episode comes to mind when Homer vents the nuclear reactor and kills the local corn crops. The farmer says, "Oh no, the corn! Paul Newman's gonna have ma' legs broke!"

On death:
My Dad used to say when it's your time to go that's it and there's nothing you can do about it. Best not to worry about such things. Whether it's the eternal dirt-nap, or the progression to another spiritual plane (depending on what you're in to), the last seconds of "oh god, what did I do with my life?" really don't matter either.

Eimer Debris said...

Thanks for the comments Brian and Kam.

Brian..your dad had good advice.

Anonymous said...

"The Hustler", "Cool Hand Luke", "Butch Cassidy" prove that Paul Newman was a major movie star.

"The Verdict" proves he was one of the greatest actors of any time. That's my favorite Paul Newman movie of all time

Anonymous said...

I occasionally like to scream, "We're All Gonna' Die!!!!!" to whoever's within earshot.

Why? Because it's true.