The passing of people I honor

This has been an exceptional week. Beginning with Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and tonight hearing that my personal friend Billy Mays has also left this lifetime, my heart breaks. Not that when anyone leaves it isn't sad, it is, however, these people all touched my life in different ways and each brings a sense of completion of an era to my world.

Each of us touches one another on some level. And, through the experiences we have our memories are tied to people, places and times in our lives. Ed McMahon put me to sleep many nights with his friend Johnny Carson for decades, including many of my years in NYC.

No young woman of my era didn't have the "Farrah" feathered hair, and we all wanted to be that "bright" and glamorous. Her persona defined beauty for an entire generation of young women and young men. I didn't know one boy who didn't have the "Farrah" poster in the red bathing suit on his wall. Legendary.

Michael Jackson defined the 70's and 80's with the most innovative videos, dance moves and albums that have ever influenced a generation. The talent that man possessed is and will most likely be unsurpassed forever. And his personal life gave millions of people hours of interesting conversation. How many other people can be credited with creating a topic of conversation that never got boring?

And then there is my personal friend, Billy Mays. The man was a gentleman, handsome, charming, brilliantly talented as a pitchman and showman. Mostly though, when you asked him about his family, his eyes and face would light up, and that smile would melt anyone's heart.

Tonight my heart breaks at the loss of Billy, mostly for his family who know that they were the light of his life and the motivation for everything he did.

My lesson from all of the "loss" this week is this. Enjoy today, do the best you can do with what you have, aspire to contribute all you can, and be grateful for every moment because you never know when the moments will end. Namaste.