Last night while Jennifer was doing some work, I read that Robin Williams had died.
We were fortunate enough to get to see him live three times at Bimbo's, but he affected us so much more than that.
I'm not a fan of Garp or the Nights at the Museum, but "Hook" is one of my favorite movies. And I watched "Mork & Mindy" regularly when I was growing up.
But what I will remember the most about Robin Williams are his stand-up albums. I got a cassette copy of an album from a friend in high school, and then another from friends at church. I know now that one of those would have been "Reality, What a Concept" and the other was "An Evening with Robin Williams" (that's the video, the album was "Throbbing Python of Love"). These became much like the early works of Bill Cosby: only a few people my age knew about them before the big album came out. Everyone knew about "Bill Cosby: Himself" and everyone knew about "A Night at the Met". And then there was a drought of stand-up albums aside from Comic Relief.
The times I saw him live, he was "Working on Material..." were in preparation for "Live on Broadway" and "Weapons of Self Destruction".
Jennifer and I thoroughly enjoyed "The Crazy Ones", his latest TV show, and could see the joy his cast had working with him. I have to wonder if the cancellation of the show contributed to his depression.
Memories of him will always bring me back to some of the more joyful parts of my life as I laughed alone, with my friends, and with my wife at the antics, wizardry, and occasional genius of Robin Williams.
I will certainly feel the loss.
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