I certainly didn’t expect my first blog to go like this, but feel it is important to express my thoughts. I was unexpectedly deeply saddened by Robin Williams passing. Obviously, I did not know him personally, but when you see him in countless movies, TV shows, stand-up shows, etc. throughout your childhood and adulthood, you get a feeling of attachment. And a friendly attachment at that. My favorite Disney movie has always been Aladdin, and a big part of that was the character that Robin Williams’ voiced, Genie. The character of Genie was comedic gold, for both young and old. Kids could get a laugh at the voices he did and adults understood his impersonations and references. I read somewhere that Robin did like 40 voices for the character! I also read that Aladdin was not in the category for Best Adapted screenplay because he improvised so much of the script! That’s simply amazing.

I can almost guarantee that if you ask any of my siblings or parents to name a movie that will not get changed in the Flynn household and within a few guesses they would name both Hook and Jumanji. Those movies, with Aladdin, were my childhood. If they were on TV, the remote was not being used. Such great acting by Williams in both and they all really just bring me to a simpler time; growing up, having a strong imagination and not a worry in the world.

Then to switch roles from what I was used to seeing Williams in was Good Will Hunting. I remember the first time I watched it. I’m pretty sure I was a sophomore in high school, and I had watched a little bit of it over a friends’ house one night and just needed to finish it the next day. I remember thinking how much I liked it then, but how young I was to really enjoy and appreciate movies. It instantly became one of my favorite movies of all time and still holds true today. The character he played in that movie has always been someone that I felt close to. My favorite scene is the following: Will (Damon) and Sean (Williams) are sitting in the Boston Public Garden and Sean gives Will this whole talk on topics like women, art, war and love. He acknowledges and shoots down what Will would probably say on each matter, because Will has never experienced them himself, all he has is what he has read. It is an important scene to personally reflect on such issues and what we actually know about any of them. Then there’s other scenes, like when Sean tells the story of first meeting his wife that are absolutely classic. I know that this was just a character, but for some reason, to me, Williams really was Sean Maguire and I loved every minute of him being on-screen.

I’ve seen some of his stand-up and seen numerous late-night talk show appearances. He was always someone who you waited up to see, or kept on when hearing of his to-be appearance. And to know that we will never see the likes of him again breaks my heart. To have someone who brought others so much joy and laughter, not be able to find happiness in their own life, truly saddens me. I guess all I can say is that we should all continue to work on being better people; a better brother/sister, a better son/daughter, a better father/mother, a better friend. Thank you, Robin