InSanity~Normalize, Don't Stigmatize Mentall Illness.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

In Memory of Robin Williams

A friend shared a story about Robin Williams. This friend's teen relative was in the hospital -- in a coma and on the brink of death. He'd accidentally taken a horrific fall. Robin Williams was at the same Northern California hospital visiting his mother. They spoke, and my friend told Robin about his relative. Robin went directly to the young patient's room, where he sat for forty-five minutes - holding his hand, talking to him, and joking with him. What a precious soul he was!
Dear Robin
Through the screen 
your gentle spark
Calms our view of worlds dark
The I.C.U. 
where kids fill beds
Your big red nose 
 heals more than meds
Though Vietnam 
 brings horrors near
You jolt us up 
 with morning cheer
And stuff your bra
then mop the floors
For a chance to see
those kids of yours
You're trained to sit
and use a fork.
"Come in, Orson!" Mork from Ork.
The laughs you give
seem without end
A comic genius
Humble friend
You teach and counsel
You're Popeye too
But there's one thing you couldn't do:
Win the war that stole your stage
Depression, drugs - a silent rage
Your fragile soul, beyond compare
A wit so sharp
A heart so rare
 May our love for you
Lift your loved ones through

Your legacy
Now ours to share.

"It is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions." - Susan Schneider, Robin Williams' Wife

None of us is alone. 
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S., 1-800-273-TALK (8255)


41 comments:

  1. Very well said, Robyn. Glad you included the Mork era.

    RIP, Robin Williams, we shall miss you and the humor you brought to the world. Life isn't always funny, but you made us forget that.

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  2. Great job! Loved your tribute. I was so sad to learn of his death. I hope he is at peace finally.

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  3. Love this - and wish he could have found the comfort he gave to so many.

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  4. So beautiful Robyn, thank you for sharing it.

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  5. A touching tribute. I will remember him as Garp in 'The World According to Garp'. Somehow, I felt as if he was playing himself in that movie.

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  6. That was very moving Robyn and yes, it was tragic news. The news in the UK is still full of articles about depression and how it should be talked about more. If his death can have some long term good....?

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  7. What a caring man who will truly be missed. Thanks for sharing this amazing story about how Robin Williams always went out of his way to help others. Your deeply moving poem was a wonderful tribute to him.

    Julie

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  8. Excellent tribute to an amazing and funny man. How generous to go sit with that young man.

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  9. WOW...I bet there are so many stories like this about him that people don't even know. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. Because he was Popeye and I grew up with that movie incessantly playing, then his dramatic work helped informed my adulthood, his death hit me pretty hard. In the wake, I've read countless stories about how kind and giving of himself he was. If you haven't, read Norm MacDonald's story about Robin. By all accounts, he was truly a great person. It's too bad he couldn't feel and take back even a measure of the joy he gave to the world. Great poem, great tribute.

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  11. Great tribute indeed, was a wonderful guy in every way, rare for the hollywood types.

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  12. Beautiful words for such a caring man.

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  13. Thank you, dear friends. Yes, we keep hearing stories about his angelic heart.

    GB, I didn't see Garp. I keep thinking of Patch Adams, and how he was playing himself in that role too.

    Pickleope, thank you. I'll read that story. Yes, if only he knew a measure of how valued and loved he was.

    I'm glad there is a burst of pervasive focus on depression. I wish, though, that the media would stop saying he had "periodic bouts" of depression. Those of us who've battled depression know that it doesn't come and go. The media doesn't talk about "periodic bouts of heart disease/diabetes..." Even our professional community gets it wrong. Like any other disease, it's always there. Sorry to preach to the choir.

    Love to you all,
    None of us is alone.
    xoRobyn

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  14. ". . . the war that stole your stage" -- what a beautiful and apt turn of phrase, Robyn. That's it exactly. How tragically sad it all is.

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  15. Wonderful poem and truly heartfelt. Everyone is shocked and saddened and he himself would be surprised from the outpouring of love he is being given. from what I have been seeing, the people who interviewed him speak so much of his goodness and how much they laughed. I watched a beautiful story about Coco the silverback gorilla. Robin visited with Coco who knows over a 1,000 words in sign language. The lady who cares for Coco stated that when Robin visited Coco, Coco just lost a friend and was sad. the visit was the first time Coco smiled and a bond was made. This lady told Coco the sad news and Coco placed her fingers under her eyes and and went down her cheeks signifying tears. Wow! i agree with you as well, depression is not an off/on button but a chronic physical condition of the brain that must be monitored with medication just like the heart or kidneys or whatever. There may be good days or bad days but it is chronic and must be maintained like anything wrong with one's body. i am glad you mentioned that

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  16. Fantastic poem. Everything was captured perfectly. I know everyone is in shock right now, but I think after that calms down, and we continue to hear more of these amazing stories about the things he did for people, that the focus will absolutely be shifted from his death to his life.

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  17. A wonderful tribute for a person who will be impossible to replace. I hope that, through all the depression and substance abuse, he knew how loved he was.

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  18. It's all so very sad. And I've been on the brink of that black hole, that abyss, with the voice shouting in my head that I'm a failure and worthless, and how much better off everyone would be if I was gone. It's not fun. I'm so sad that Robin was unable to be pulled back from the edge before he fell.

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  19. Very nicely said. I've enjoyed reading the many stories about his kindness and sensitivity. But I am sad. I will be sad every time I hear his name or see his face.

    Love,
    Janie

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  20. Wonderfully put, Robyn.

    I've seen him in most of his movies, but will always remember him as Mork, wearing rainbow suspenders.

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  21. Yes, let's focus on all of the kind things he did in this life. He made a bad choice at the end while he was very likely not thinking straight at all. BUT he made so many other wonderful choices. Thank you for sharing this one!

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  22. This is beautiful! The world has lost a wonderful soul. It is truly tragic.

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  23. great tribute post. I think he was a generous person and kind. He just couldn't be kind to himself.

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  24. your tribute said it all. thanks. cheers!!

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  25. Wonderful tribute - did you hear about the Parkinson's today?

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  26. Yes, I read that, Jo. It explains things a tad more.

    Thanks, all.

    Take gentle care.

    xoRobyn

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  27. Wonderful tribute to such a great man. May he RIP.

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  28. I was utterly speechless when I heard the news and didn't believe it at first. And then I cried, because the world has lost an amazing man. I only hope he's at peace now. What a beautiful tribute, thank you Robyn.

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  29. What a nice thing he did. It's so bittersweet to hear those kinds of things after someone has passed.

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  30. I don't know why, but when I heard, I was not surprised.

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  31. Ruth, I didn't follow him closely, so I'm shocked. Well, I'd still be shocked. But you probably were more in-tune with his interviews and what he shared/didn't share about himself. Now that I read more and more about him, I see that he never admitted to having a mood disorder (depression or bipolar dis.), though he clearly did. He didn't get help. He was incredibly sensitive. Add to this Parkinson's plus financial stresses - having paid $33 million in alimony to two ex wives, etc...The brain can only handle so much without medication.

    Take gentle care, friends.
    love to you.
    xoRobyn

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  32. He was such a remarkable man. I do hope some good can come from his passing. It seems to be shedding a lot of light on mental illness. Maybe the stigma that is always attached to it will be lifted, and now more people will seek help.

    Beautiful poem!

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  33. Wonderful tribute, Robyn. This is beautifully said. Robin's death is a tragic loss to all. He brought so much light, love, and laughter into the world.

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  34. Lovely heartfelt words Robyn.

    Think he had a heap of recent problems, money being a big one - God its just not worth having it, everyone wants a piece. And he long struggled with depression etc.

    We've seen his highs. Imagine those lows. Terrible. Just so sad.

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  35. Beautiful.
    Nothing more to add.
    I know...shocking, huh?

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  36. A beautiful tribute to a wonderful man who made so many people smile and laugh despite his depression.

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  37. A wonderful and lovely man that suffer so much, a lovely soul.This is a wonderful tribute and Im still sad..

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  38. That was a really nice tribute Robyn. Very well written.

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