When I hear about people dying I no longer feel sadness. Just jealousy. That’s what I felt the moment I read that David Bowie had passed.

Also, remember when I would shamelessly feel sad about a Celebrity dying, because I was an ACTUAL FAN, and people hated me for it? “Why are you suddenly a Fan of everyone dying, Abbie?” someone told me on Formspring (or was it Tumblr?), and I’m like, “WHAT CAN I DO IF PEOPLE I LOOK UP TO / LIKE / LOVE KEEP DYING?” I was such a huge Boyzone fan (people who knew me in High School would attest to that), so naturally I was shattered when Stephen Gately died, DUH.

And now, Bowie. I may not be the biggest Bowie fan but I love the man, regardless. I have Aladdin Sane’s album cover plastered on my wall  There was a time when I listened to this one song for an entire week (I was pretty psyched that he had a new album out, too. But I didn’t Tweet it. Does that mean my feelings  of excitement is invalid?).

Bowie’s in Space. Whatcha doin’ out there, man? 

(Before I go on, please know that I might sound a little irrational in this post. But I’m on Hater Mode today. I’ve been contemplating if I should publish this, but the heck with it. Life is short. We all should know that by now.)

This isn’t exactly an entry about Bowie. But he surely inspired it. While going through people’s feelings on his passing, I got to thinking about *drumroll* …

Life.

And Death.

People think Death is sad. And it is. Most of the time, we think – how sad this person isn’t here anymore. This was such a fun thing to experience. This was such a nice place to see. This was such a huge thing to miss.

But seriously, when you think about the pain some of us go through – is it worth it? To stay? Alive?

My Timeline is full of tributes to Bowie. And I get that. When Death comes for Legends, we all unite in grief (I know when Sir Pat and Sir Ian’s time comes, I would lose it. I love those men SO FUCKING MUCH). And as much as I am with everyone, with feelings of sadness and shock overwhelming us, I am also livid that we continuously celebrate people in … Death.

I know it doesn’t make sense. I mean, how are you supposed to celebrate a person or life on a daily basis? Bowie deserves all the good praise he gets for his music, his talent, and what he has brought to the World in terms of, well, HUMANITY. But when someone we all look up to dies, I often wonder if we have celebrated them enough during their existence. Legends never really *die* (Princess Diana’s legacy will go on forever, I know that), but do we really ever appreciate people enough to make them actually feel it? Do you see the connection? It’s in there somewhere.

Oftentimes, we are told that we should make sure we “leave something good behind”, something we should all be proud of. But I digress. Very much. At the end of it all, it’s not really how much people come together to remember the good things you did, eventually people will move on from your passing. And that’s a reality we all have to face. People always have the kindest of words to say during loss. But how about while you’re here? Did people translate these feelings to you into actions, or words, at least? Did they let you know everything they felt about you, how happy you made them, or at least give you the chance to right a wrong, to apologise for how they might have unintentionally, or intentionally hurt you?

It’s a responsibility we all have towards each other, something we take for granted. Your Mother isn’t going to be around forever. Not your Grandfather, not your Cousin, not your Nephew, not even your Labrador. No one is, and we all know age has nothing to do with Death.

As nice as it is to look back at all the amazing moments you made with them, there is no telephone line to the other side. You’re all alone in memory lane, my Friend. Sure, they leave something good behind, there’s always something good our dearly departed leaves us, regardless of magnitude or depth. But that does nothing for them. Remembering them does nothing. When people are gone, they are gone. We should stop romanticising the passing of loved ones, even legendary rock icons or actors.

We always reserve the best things for GRIEF. We always have the kindest of words to say, we always have the heart of forgiveness as soon as DEATH comes. Why do we do that? Why write pages and pages of Eulogies for people who are no longer there to hear it? What is the point. The people who end up listening to you, that won’t matter to them. They won’t get it. They will cry, though. But that is about it.

People move forward. People will forget. And that’s just how life works.

That is also how Death works.

You have now. You have today. Have you told the people you love how you feel about them? Are you hiding in fear, like me? Because that sucks.

Oh, Death. Life’s greatest enemy. But someone I would love to call my Best Friend. Stop coming for people who love life, Death. I mean, I want out, yo. Are you a troll, are you enjoying the irony? Because none of us  find it funny.   Why did you even bother waking me up today. Ugh.

Oh well … looks like I’m not the only one who will be blasting HEROES today.