P.S.

In my post-concert, non-sleep induced and in-a-rush-to-get-out-of-town haze on Friday morning, I forgot to mention one of the things that was a big favorite...and for a few hours, a big not-so-favorite last week.

So since I'm a little more relaxed this morning....

...I thought I'd add it now.

Last Monday I posted THIS PIECE on the tragedy of Cory Monteith's death and how I was hoping it would be a lesson for my kids on the dangers of addiction and the finality of some bad choices, despite how unbelievably sad it was.

And then on Tuesday, it was published (a little bit spruced up) on Mamapedia.com.
Check it out!

I love Mamapedia. Is it because I've been honored to have had a couple of posts published there in the past few months? Well, sure. But I also love the site because it's not just full of posts that give you your morning chortle; it's well balanced with well-written pieces that are "food for thought", as well as containing a great Q&A section where moms from all across the country can offer advice and support for the million and one questions that accompany motherhood.

But back to my article.

Since it was published on Tuesday morning, which was about 10 hours before the official autopsy report was released, it ruffled a few feathers.

As in, about 10 people gave me a stern talking to about "making assumptions" and "being premature." One lady even told me that "making assumptions is as sad and tragic as the loss of a young life."

Wow. Really??

Listen, I knew it was a bit speculative (I even addressed that in my post), the editor of Mampaedia knew it was a bit speculative (but agreed that it was a good message and worth putting out there), but all I know is that if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it shit-sure is usually a DUCK. 

After the toxicology report came out which confirmed what we all knew to be true, those types of scolding comments were replaced by an abundance of those with amazingly insightful thoughts, good points, and a lot of support for my stance both from people I do and do not know (which I really appreciated).

It was a weird day. On the one hand, I was so proud to once again be published on Mamapedia, but because I'm a people pleaser and the type that likes to keep the waters calm and hates controversy, the negative and scolding comments stung a little more than I'd have liked. And the part that was the most aggrivating (other than the fact that I knew I was right about the cause of death), was that I felt those people were missing the point of my article entirely.

Well, except this lady (who I swear I do not know)  --
Regardless of whether it was right or wrong for her to make the educated guess that she did, the message of her article remains a very powerful message. It is a message that I would hate to see go ignored simply because she had the nerve to post her article a few hours earlier than the "Official" report came out.

Thank you. 

And okay, maybe it was a misprint on my part to assert that coke-whore Brittany Murphy died of an overdose instead of a black mold infestation, but even People magazine makes editorial mistakes that they have to retract every week.
Lesson learned.

And speaking of national publications making assumptions (we weren't, but I needed a good segue) -- yesterday I was reading the article about Cory Monteith's death in my Us Weekly (which we all know to be a reliable source of information), and saw this --

Guess even Us Magazine knows a duck when they see one.

This week I've been consumed by reading the reports about Cory Monteith.
I don't really know why.
I wasn't even a big fan (in fact, I hate to admit this now, but he always bugged me on GLEE and I criticized his lack of talent more than once. Or twice).
But I think I've been obsessed with his death because he seemed like such a good, decent, nice man.
And from everything I've read this week, he was, despite the demon of his addiction.
He was someone who it was a pleasure to know -- have known.
And that's what is continuing to make me so sad for his loss and for the loss of his family and friends...and fans.
I'll say it again -- he didn't want to die.
He just had no control over that decision.
And that, I think, is the biggest lesson his death can teach us.



~ If, like me, you're still looking for answers and something that might help make this tragedy make more sense (which it just simply never will) and read statements from people who knew him --  here's A HEARTBREAKING INTERVIEW WITH GLEE CREATOR (and good friend of Cory's), RYAN MURPHY.