Goodbye George Carlin

First Richard Pryor left us. That was a blow, but in a way it wasn't that surprising. He suffered with MS for years before passing away. Before that disease announced itself he had stopped touring and was only doing film work every once in a while.

George Carlin was different. Even as late as March of this year he was still producing stand up specials. Still touring. Still writing books. Still being the grumpy, loud voice of reason in the world of absurdity we call the United States. A role that suited him even better the older he got. With that kind of track record and presence you just kind always think he'll be there.

And then he's gone.

In 1994 I got the chance to see him live. My favorite bit from that evening was his reading of An Incomplete List of Impolite Words and Phrases. Before reading it he stated that after every show someone would tell him a new one. True to form after reading it a couple of audience members told him a new one to add to the list. After the performance I picked up a poster that listed 2,443 Filthy Words and Phrases. My favorite: Waxing the Dolphin.

As a writer this was the part that always entranced me about his stand up: words and there meanings. From the seven words you can never say on television, to the definition of "stuff", Carlin was a master of tweaking our societal perceptions simply be tweaking the words we use everyday.