“I Mean…What?!?” – Abe Gurko

Tony Curtis and Eddie Fisher passed last week. Having experienced the passing-on of both my parents, I wanted to take this moment from commenting on Paris Fashion Week and acknowledge Carrie Fisher and Jamie Lee Curtis‘s sad losses. Those two have so much in common:

1. Raised by America’s Sweethearts, 1950’s iconic Hollywood couples
2. Divorce and scandal
3. Both in recovery
4. Have good careers on their own right

Whatever the circumstances, no matter how unavailable our fathers were growing up (I have then in common with them, too), we are never prepared for our parents dying. It is not in our DNA. We need to either go through a funk, denial, addiction, depression, guilt, anger, sadness, and/or…all of the above. One never knows what to say. I’m sorry never works, because why apologize for something you simply did not do. Unless of course you hacked that person to death. It’s touchy. All you can do is try to be there for your friends. A call, an email, a personalized note of condolence and support, “I’m here if you need anything.” Today I am off to Los Angeles to be with Carrie. To reassure her that the pain of loss passes, in time. And might I also take this moment to recommend that you tell your parents…especially if they are still alive…”I love you”.