Remembering Ed Bradley
I LOVED Ed Bradley. But he was one of those people I'd never have referenced in a conversation or on an "online networking site" about who I admired. Not sure why, just the way it was. Perhaps because I wasn't an inner city black male looking for inspiration to get out of the hood? Quite possibly. Mr. Bradley wasn't a "hero" to me that way. Nor did I have a burning yearning to be a "60 Minutes" journalist...although I more and more HAVE coveted Andy Rooney's position. No, really. So, for whatever reason, it was only AFTER I learned of Bradley's death that I instantly realized how much I enjoyed and respected both his work AND personal style.
I was driving on the NJ Turnpike Thursday night when I learned of his death. For some reason I decided I needed to hear WINS on my AM dial; neither music nor silence were suiting me at the time. Besides, in only 22 minutes, they'd give me the world. Mercifully, I was nearing the end of my trip when I heard the news...would have been a major bummer for my great day at the shore if i'd heard the news earlier.
I just couldn't believe the news. He was the baby of THAT bunch! A staple of Sunday nights for more than 2 decades. A tough newsman who didn't suffer fools. A guy in his mid 60s who still absolutely exuded hipness, relevance, and swagger...life. And now he's dead. Leukemia. And the world goes on. And it always seems a tad heartless to me that it does so. We all go "awwww, that's a shame," then move on to something like laundry or putting that TV dinner in the microwave. A LIFE is extinguished...but I GOTS to have my Fried Chicken Hungry Man ASAP.
And then I do something like finally bringing the 1985 microwave that's been sitting on my hall closet floor for some 3 years because "well, I wanna check it out one last time before I get rid of it" to the curb for trash pickup. Yes, I am saying that Bradley's death -- among other things -- went into this crucial decision. Not AS ludicrous as it first sounds. Just a kinda "what the fuck you waiting for?" thing. And yes, I AM applying that attitude toward more important things in my life besides appliance disposal. As should YOU, faithful reader. I've done a lot this wonderfully rainy, housebound weekend. Bradley's tribute on 60 MINUTES was great -- depressing and inspiring at once. It seems appropriate to consider the famous ticking of that clock, no?
I was driving on the NJ Turnpike Thursday night when I learned of his death. For some reason I decided I needed to hear WINS on my AM dial; neither music nor silence were suiting me at the time. Besides, in only 22 minutes, they'd give me the world. Mercifully, I was nearing the end of my trip when I heard the news...would have been a major bummer for my great day at the shore if i'd heard the news earlier.
I just couldn't believe the news. He was the baby of THAT bunch! A staple of Sunday nights for more than 2 decades. A tough newsman who didn't suffer fools. A guy in his mid 60s who still absolutely exuded hipness, relevance, and swagger...life. And now he's dead. Leukemia. And the world goes on. And it always seems a tad heartless to me that it does so. We all go "awwww, that's a shame," then move on to something like laundry or putting that TV dinner in the microwave. A LIFE is extinguished...but I GOTS to have my Fried Chicken Hungry Man ASAP.
And then I do something like finally bringing the 1985 microwave that's been sitting on my hall closet floor for some 3 years because "well, I wanna check it out one last time before I get rid of it" to the curb for trash pickup. Yes, I am saying that Bradley's death -- among other things -- went into this crucial decision. Not AS ludicrous as it first sounds. Just a kinda "what the fuck you waiting for?" thing. And yes, I AM applying that attitude toward more important things in my life besides appliance disposal. As should YOU, faithful reader. I've done a lot this wonderfully rainy, housebound weekend. Bradley's tribute on 60 MINUTES was great -- depressing and inspiring at once. It seems appropriate to consider the famous ticking of that clock, no?
posted by Gregoire at 4:45 PM
1 Comments:
Oh look. You've posted the same entry twice! Surely this doesn't bode well for your obsession for perfection.
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