It’s not very often that the passing of famous people makes an impression on me.  I’ve never really understood why we get so involved with famous people.  I agree with the guy (whose name I forget) from Saturday Night Live who said something to the effect of:  If you think you want to be rich and famous, try rich first.

I can’t imagine having photographers chasing me around 24/7.  I don’t understand how everyday people can get so involved with famous people that they know every little thing about them.  Guess it started with the Beatles in my life.  Watching those crowds of kids – mostly girls of course – screaming and crying over four other kids from England. . .   it was a puzzlement.

But, that’s not the topic for this Wednesday.  As you probably know, George Carlin passed away recently.  His passing did have an impact on me.  Carlin was controversial to some, but I was always fascinated by the way he looked at things.

I enjoyed his outlook on life and his ability to look at the most common situations and find the unusual or absurd angle on them.  Here are some Carlin gems:

• By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.
• Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established.
• Electricity is really just organized lightning.
• Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
• I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away.
• I think people should be allowed to do anything they want. We haven’t tried that for a while. Maybe this time it’ll work.
• I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “Where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
• I’m not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose… it’ll be much harder to detect.
• Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.
• Not only do I not know what’s going on, I wouldn’t know what to do about it if I did.
• People who say they don’t care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don’t care what people think.

And, I could go on.  But, if you haven’t heard a Carlinism lately, those quotes should remind you whether you liked the man’s humor or not.  And, here’s the most appropriate George Carlin quote to end this whimsy:

Always do whatever’s next.

Safe Journey, Mr. Carlin