I was watching the Barbara Walters special last night on ABC with Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi that happened earlier this year. This was a re-broadcast and it was full of hope and fight, which made it even sadder. Damn that Barbara! She showed the first interview with Swayze from many years ago right after his father died, in which he started crying about the pain, then she brought it up again by asking him if he "spoke to his father" and made him cry again. He called her some crazy southern term and pulled himself together. Then, she made Lisa cry by asking her if she was ready to live without Patrick? God, why not just stab them both in the leg while you're at it?
Anyhow, it was sad and emotional but I'm glad that he was able to live and even die, on his terms. He continued working, finished his memoirs and gave thousands of people fighting cancer hope. He even quoted Ghost - the line about taking the love with you. I was a bawling by this time.
I chose this picture for obvious reasons - keanu has lost quite a few friends, lovers and costars to tragedy...but also because i'd like to remember Patrick Swayze as the crazy surfer Bodhi, always pushing the limits and then disappearing over the surf...
2009 is a year marked with a lot of tragedy so far...personal and distant. Can we have a break please?
