Heaven’s a little funnier today …

          And I’m a little sadder.  George Carlin died yesterday of heart failure at the St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.  He was 71 years old.  Those of you who’ve known me for a long time know that Carlin was one of my favorite people on the planet.

          At the age of 17, I memorized a bit that George wrote called “The Hairpiece”, thanks to an album that I borrowed from my oldest brother Jackie.  Besides my brothers and my own father, George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Cheech and Chong were the people most influential in my life in terms of comedy.

          I never got to see George perform live, but saw many of his performances that were taped and have listened to his albums for hours on end.  We all owe George Carlin a debt for pushing the boundaries, making us think outside our own pre-conceived notions and reminding us that censorship in all its forms is not only wrong, but can be downright hilarious.  We didn’t often line up with each other in terns of spiritual belief, George was an avowed atheist, but I loved the man deeply anyway and am praying for his family.

Rest In Peace big brother and knock ‘em dead up there in heaven.

George Carlin 1937 - 2008

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