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October 6, 2011

Death In the Post-Aughts

I arrived home yesterday and the news about Steve Jobs followed shortly thereafter. I spent my evening reading about him. I recall thinking back in August, when he resigned from Apple, what a rare opportunity it must be for a man to read all of his eulogies while still alive. Such was the tone of all the stories reporting on Jobs' stepping down. The outpouring last night and today was more of the same, but with all those hidden ellipses now replaced with the inevitable period.

I felt very sad last night, and I wondered why. Certainly this one man's impact on the world and my own life is undeniable, and surely he died too young, but it was the immensity of his passing that was moving, that caught on and grew like a wildfire: a very personal thing, writ large by those left behind, which in this case was just about everyone, especially those in my generation, whose heroes are all getting old and beginning to wane and whose outlets for expounding upon this are without limits.

I remember, when I was little and Star Wars meant the world to me, coming to terms with the fact that Harrison Ford would someday die. I was saddened by the thought of a world without Indiana Jones, and had to assure myself that I'd meet him before that day came (I still haven't). As I got older, the list of people who've inspired me and impacted my life has grown. Many if not all will likely die before I do. It is recommended that children have pets so that they have an opportunity to come to terms with death and loss. Where am I going with this? The prospect of a world without Indiana Jones doesn't trouble me so much anymore as does the thought that there will come a time when the eulogies of all my heroes will begin to resound, one after another, and I'll mistake the deep comfort they provide for sadness as they prepare me for things I'd rather not have to face.

Posted by David Lowery at October 6, 2011 11:03 AM