George Carlin

It's been a week or 2 now since George Carlin died, and I find myself still thinking about him. He was always one of my favorite comedians, not from the Hippy Dippy Weatherman days, I didn't like that character, but I'll never forget the first time I head his: "7 Words You Can't Say On TV." tape. (Yeah...tape, as in 8-track, this was indeed "back in the day.)

It stunned me and shocked me and I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. (Well, maybe once, in a hotel in Arusha in Africa, but that's a whole other story). George Carlin then became the comedian that I always tried to listen to. His rants were sometimes (oftentimes) very raunchy and shocking, but he also made observations about human nature that were very cutting edge. He told us his beliefs, opinions, musings and profound thoughts. Sort of a pre-Sienfeld, or perhaps I should say that Jerry was a post-Carlin. He said a lot of things that people secretly agree with, but are far too afraid to voice out loud.

This is one of my favorite of his little monologues.

SUN OF GOD

I've been worshipping the sun for a number of reasons. First of all, unlike some other gods I could mention, I can see the sun. It's there for me every day. And the things it brings me are quite apparent all the time: heat, light, food, a lovely day. There's no mystery, no one asks for money, I don't have to dress up, there's no boring pagentry. And interestingly enough, I have found that the prayers I offer to the sun and the prayers I formerly offered to "God" are all answered at about the same 50% rate.

Now seriously...how true is that? Right! Pretty damn true!

His funniest monologue is the one on "stuff" and how we have too much of it and what we do with it. It's quite long, but if you go to You Tube you can find a clip of it. I'm sure you can just Google it and read the entire thing, but to see it is the best! His inflections and gestures are what make it so funny. As a matter of fact, I am off to watch it one more time.