So Long Lady Joan

[kybearfuzz]

I admit that I wondered about her condition for the last few days. At the age of 81, I figured that her health was good, but fragile. Still, I was a bit surprised to hear on the radio on my car drive home that Joan Rivers had passed away. She just seemed like she'd be around forever.


I've been a fan of Joan's since I was little and first saw her do a monologue on "The Tonight Show." Her delivery was so rapid, her wit was so sharp, and her humor was biting. I was enthralled. My mom didn't want me watching it and sent me to bed. Instead, I turned on my small TV in my room and covered my mouth to muffle my laughing.

Later, at a "book sale" for some school thing, I found a paperback of her book, "The Life and (Hard) Times of Heidi Abromowitz." It was 50 cents and missing it's cover. It was bawdy, even "dirty," and had these fantastic cartoons drawn by James Sherman, all describing the life of a slut named Heidi. I loved that book and read it many times. At some point, that book vanished. I'm guessing that Mom might have snatched it from my room and disposed of it.

A few years ago, I bought a used hardcopy of the book online. I laughed just as much as I did the first time and I'm happy I still have it.

I've followed Joan's career for decades and enjoyed it. I loved her stand-up specials, the documentaries, and recently her "In Bed with Joan" web series. She recently had drag queen comedian Bianca Del Rio in bed with her and you can tell they were kindred spirits (the language is very NSFW!).

Thanks for the laughs, Joan, you'll be missed ...

Comments

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I had just started watching and enjoying "In Bed with Joan". I am really sad that Joan has died. Like my mother, she didn't survive a surgery that she was supposed to survive. The world has a lot less laughter in it now.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

It is sad. I suppose there is the silver lining that she didn't go from a horrible, lingering illness, but she had so much life left in her it seems. What happened to her could really have happened to any of us. :(

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

I'm sad she's dead. She was due to appear in Southend next month, but we decided not to go as there are other priorities and we only saw her last year. Thank God we did. She was a riot!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

You have no idea how jealous I am that you got to see her live. It never seemed to be an option for me. In fact, a friend of mine was supposed to see her on August 28 or 29th, which I think is the day that she slipped into a coma.

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

It was only because she came to Southend and, when we were living in the flat, the theatre was a ten-minute walk away. We were both surprised that she came here, but Southend is only an hour from London, so I expect it's an easy trip for a star staying in town? Like I said, I am so glad we did. She was someone I never expected to see.

[notmypresident.livejournal.com]

So, so glad that Bianca got to play with Joan before her passing. That's one of the funniest segments of the show, for sure.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

They were incredible together, weren't they? Both of them have very sharp wit and the interplay was fantastic.

[champdaddy.livejournal.com]

thanks for posting this...

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Anytime handsome! Hope you're doing well, haven't seen much of you lately.

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

It feels like there's a black hole now where she used to be; she was so full of life and very much there- and now, she's not there.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Sigh... I know. Anyone who has her style just seems to be a knock-off now.

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

I used to play her album "What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most" ALL the time. I'll miss her...