David Bowie Died, And So Will You

The young David Bowie was dying even then.

"For the last 18 months (we learn only today) David Bowie has known that he was dying. He kept that information private, while spending his final months doing what he'd done his whole life — making outrageously original, beautiful, complicated art." So said a post on Facebook earlier today as the sad news of Bowie's death rocketed around social media.

Several things struck me about Eat, Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote the post. First, her unbelievable arrogance in saying that "we learn only today," as if it were Bowie's responsibility to tell the world he had been diagnosed with cancer a year and a half earlier. Second, her inherent stupidity, revealed by saying that the 69-year-old singer "knew he was dying," implying that the rest of us don't have the very same information about ourselves.

Wake up people: we are all dying, every day, every second. Just because some doctor gives you an end date doesn't mean that he's right, or even that you will live that long. The only sane thing to do is to keep on doing what you do and try not to dwell on the fact that you too are dying, and so is everyone you know.  Or else, embrace it and make every day count. 

Still, we will all miss Bowie's contributions to the world of art and music. Only God knows who's next.