The Year I Longed for Summer to be Over

The report of my death was an exaggeration.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) New York Journal, June 2, 1897

So the Summer of 2009 Race to the Grave Sudden Death Twilight Tour has claimed yet another life. That of beloved anchor man Walter Cronkite. One of the most (if not the most) prestigious name in the history of news. Death is definitely on a roll this year.

Notable Deaths this Spring/Summer include (but are not limited to) . . .

Arturo Gatti (Boxer)
Robert McNamara (former U.S. Defense Secretary)
Steve McNair (Baltimore Ravens Quarterback)
David Carradine (Actor)
Farah Fawcett (Actress)
Michael Jackson (Greatest Performer of all Time)
Billy Mays (TV pitchman)
Ed McMahon (TV celebrity)
Wayne Allwine (Voice of Mickey Mouse for over 30 years)
Wayman Tisdale (Basketball player)
Mickey Carroll (Actor - most famous as the "munchkin" town crier from Wizard of Oz)
Dom DeLuise (Actor and comedian)
Bea Arthur (Actress)
Harry Kalas (Philadelphia Phillies announcer)
Natasha Richardson (Actress)
Socks (Presidential Pet during Clinton Administration)
John Updike (Author)
Andrew Wyeth (Artist)

. . . and on a more personal note, my Aunt died the Friday before last. My family celebrated her life, memory and legacy yesterday. She was an amazing woman with many accomplishments, the most notable being her role as Matriarch to our family. (Which is no small feat because my family is HUGE.) She is the last of her siblings to become deceased and with her death, she concludes a generation of my family. She was loved by all and is very much missed.

R.I.P. Aunt Claudia. I look forward to seeing you in the future.
p.s. You're in good company!

(Wanted to add that I just found out the world's oldest man has died at age 113. Rest in peace to you too, Mr. Henry Allingham.)