Amy Winehouse | How Her Death Impacted My Life

Amy Winehouse's death and the impact on my life.

Just like the rest of the world, I woke up this Saturday morning to find out that Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home. Of course, I did not know her personally but I did enjoy her music. Because I love buying hair products and frequently get called a Product Junkie I really loved the song "Rehab".

People are speculating about the cause of death. When anyone dies, that is always the first thing people ask. I don't know if it's out of sheer nosiness or habit. To me, the cause of death is never as important as the FINALITY of DEATH.

Even at 27 and dead today, Amy Winehouse lived her life. Like it or not, Amy Winehouse lived her life the way she wanted.
She obtained what many people desire:
a career doing what she loved. Amy Winehouse was a celebrity musician with money.

While the media circus is all abuzz about The Death of Amy Winehouse,
what if it were you? Yes You! There would probably
not be a media frenzy unless you died doing something crazy like going on a killing spree and went running from the police in a high speed chase and ending up on the national news. But really, if you died today, what would happen? Your family and friends would start making the arrangements to bury you. You might get a blurb in the local newspaper's obituary section. A celebrity's death, including Amy Winehouse's, makes global news.
But for the everyday average Joe & Josephine, there is not much fanfare.
That does NOT diminish the value of their lives. I've been to many funerals of people who had lived their lives with such service and accomplishment that I left feeling inspired rather than sad.

This brings me to something that I always think about when DEATH occurs:

Are you living the life YOU want to live? Are you doing the things you intended to do? If not, what are you waiting for?

The Big 4-0

Today, I turn 40! Certain Welcome Wagon committee members have already welcomed me into the fold with advisement to purchase Ben Gay ointment and to "expect to hear sound effects when moving, sitting, standing, bending and reaching"! Ha! Thanks Liz!


Online friends have wished me good tidings like my Fashionista Poochie of Poochie's Closet. Jeff Majors, Etsy, Threadbangers and WDIA AM 1070 in Memphis have all wished me a Happy Birthday. My "twin" has already called and was actually the first person to ring in the 40s on my phone. Thanks Anthony! My dad is even up and online at this hour and has already sent online wishes. I'm not surprised. We are both Leos and night owls. Family members with normal sleeping habits will begin ringing my phone later this morning!

Now that I'm officially 40, I have to say that I feel great. Not to sound arrogant but it doesn't hurt either that I don't look 40. I work in a middle school and visitors often comment that I look like one of the kids. Now, I wouldn't go that far but I accept the compliment anyway. What's my secret? I would love to tell you that it's because I eat right, exercise at least 3 times per week and that I don't drink or smoke, have a beauty regimen that would shame Cleopatra and that I'm in bed by 9:30 every night. I would love to tell you that. In actuality, it is currently 3:50 AM, I haven't been to sleep and my first birthday meal was 5 empanadas, a Coca-Cola and a glass of Moscato. I haven't been on the Wii in well over 2 months. The Mii characters are probably really getting their snooze on. Beauty regimen. . .I have been known to crash out in my clothes with makeup on! So what's my secret? Good Genes baby!

Look at my ancestors! From left to right we have my great grandfather, my great grandmother, my grandfather, my grandmother and my great uncle. Such greatness. These folks and more have all made me who I am today.

I work with middle schoolers and they keep me hip and informed. I always know the latest music, dance crazes, fashion trends and must have gadgets. Getting checked by them and putting them in check occurs on a regular basis. I am barely "a buck 0-5" working with urban youth and I not scared. "I am a Clair". Clair as in Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show. I give them "the look". They know that I don't play.

Though I don't make New Year's Resolutions, I do take birthday reflections. I will celebrate my 40th birthday for the next 364 days by being grateful. Grateful to be alive. The past few months and especially that last few weeks has been tumultuous. Many people have died. Lots have been celebrities. Some, I've known personally or exchanged emails with. Just like me, Steve McNair graduated from Alcorn State University. I watched him play football at Alcorn. It is because of Steve that I am a knowledgeable football fan. He autographed his covers of Sports Illustrated and Sports View for me in 1995 just before getting drafted into the NFL.

As a reader, I often wondered how writers could use a celebrity's name in their work of fiction without getting sued. My answer came after I received a response to my query from E. Lynn Harris. I still have that email.

Family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers have died. Life is so amazing. I remember laughing and talking with a co-worker/friend one Friday and on Monday heard that she had died over the weekend. While death is natural and a given, it is sometimes hard to accept. I've spent ample amounts of time lately grieving the loss of family and friends, Steve McNair and Michael Jackson. Their passing has made me even more determined to squeeze all that I can out of this tube of life. My spirit is renewed. I love to create. I love to write. You can best believe that I will do more of those things.

I am running the self clean function on the oven but later today, I will bake myself a birthday cake. I have a taste for German Chocolate. Though I always do this for other people, today, I will make myself a slideshow featuring my favorite music. I will go shopping and perhaps even wash my truck. But right now, I'm going over to my iPod to blast 50 Cents' "In Da Club" and refreshen my glass of Moscato. Today, I'm 40.

Cheers!

Keep Calm & Carry On

In the last few days, we have mourned the loss of several well known celebrities. Personally, there has been loss. A former co-worker expired the same day as Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

Sure, I have been amongst the people talking about & mourning Michael's sudden death. But if there is a message here, it is "Live For Today". Tomorrow is not promised. Death to me is no longer a shocker. We all have to go that way. We get consumed when it happens suddenly. I have most recently adopted the adage, "Keep Calm & Carry On." I believe this phrase was coined by the British government during wartime. I think it fits my life perfectly.

We are not immortal.

Steve McNair

Life is too short. My phone has been ringing off the hook. I do not want to talk to anyone right now. I don't know the details but CNN is reporting that Steve was killed a little while ago.

I was asleep when my BFF called and told me that it was sad about Steve. Steve who? I had a feeling that the reponse was gonna be bad. My favorite QB of all times and fellow Alcorn State Alum has been fatally shot in the head. Why was Steve McNair at an apartment complex? I don't know the details but I can tell ya they won't be pretty. Love triangle, murder suicide, jealous rage.

My most fond memories of Steve McNair are of his days as QB at Alcorn State University. This man always had the stands packed. He could really throw that football.

I had the opportunity to meet Steve and he was a very nice man. The photo above was taken when he came to the J.D. Boyd Library in 1995 to autograph his Sports Illustrated cover.

RIP Air McNair!

Billy Mays Too

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and now pitchman Billy Mays all died this week. I can still hear Billy Mays screaming in my ear about OxiClean and Kaboom when I have fallen asleep with the TV on at night. What a week.

But as I think about the number: 50. Bernie Mac, Michael Jackson and now Billy Mays, they all died at 50. I was just telling a cousin about those "round" number death expirations. To me, folks who expire on the "9", 29 or 39, or 49 etc. are still trying to accomplish something. But when they expire on the round number, there is a sense of completeness. Just a personal thought.

I had never bought any OxiClean or Kaboom until last week! I am doing some cleaning and was in Lowe's shopping. I guess it just shows the power of advertising over my selection. I purposely chose Kaboom because I could see and hear Billy Mays' excited pitch.

I bought some Kaboom Tub and Tile Cleaner that worked great. I also bought a Kaboom Scrub-free toilet cleaning system that I have yet to install and some Kaboom Foaming Bowlblaster that smells great but does not clean without user scrubbing action.

RIP Billy Mays!