Natasha Richardson: The loss of a good person

When a celebrity dies, often the response from the public is, “Why is the media covering this one death as opposed to those who die each and everyday?” You know the nameless, faceless and good people that we have come to know.  That is the way it has always been.

Before hearing of Natasha Richardson’s untimely death on Wednesday due to a skiing accident, this past weekend, I had been listening to a montage of George Harrison songs on YouTube.com.  He like Richardson were good people and their absence from this world should mean something.

As I listened to Harrison’s songs, all touched my heart since his main train of thought within any song was love first and foremost.  He has become my all time favorite artist in life.  Love does matter.  Like Richardson, he too left behind those who loved him.  He left behind his lover and wife, Olivia Arias.

Both were highly creative performers who died way before their time.  But, one must ask: Was it before their time?  Only God or a higher power can answer that age old question.  But, for mere mortals such as you and me, we come to know this is as the way of life.

Some may ask, why I care so much for an actress who died on the ski slopes and the answer is because she was a good person.  She had many surrounding her like her husband Liam Neeson, her mother Vanessa Redgrave along with her sole sister, Joely Richardson who loved her dearly.  That should count for something in the grand scheme of life.

For those who have followed Natasha Richardson’s career and for those who knew her, a question arises, “Why her and not someone else who is far less deserving of life?  For instance a monster like Osama bin Laden or Charles Manson.” The only answer I can think of is that we who are left behind know the difference between good people and bad people.  We will seek out more like them within our own lives and turn on backs on those who seek to corrupt it.

We will say to those heinous people, you mean nothing to me at all and be gone from our lives.  Hopefully, we will gravitate towards the better people in our lives and our better angels.  I for one am sick to death of concentrating on the heinous and seek the good.

When Princess Diana died, I knew this world lost a good and giving person.  I knew just the same when we lost John F. Kennedy Jr.  I felt like screaming out and did, “Why them and not the monsters in our lives?” That is an age old question that will never be answered until we meet with our Creator.  As a person of faith, I have to go with that train of thought or else all hope is lost to me.

One of my favorite movies is the remake of the Parent Trap starring Natasha Richardson and Lindsey Lohan.  There were times that I could watch that movie over and over.  Simply because it was a feel good movie and we all need that in our lives.  I then thought of Lindsey Lohan and a question popped into my head: Would this death of her co-star be a lesson to her to live a more productive life?  I do hope so.

All I know is that a good person left this world on Wednesday leaving behind many loving people who have surrounded her during her shortened life.  Those are the people who my prayers are with as I write this piece.  Ms. Richardson is already with our Creator and is at rest.  May she rest in peace and her family find some comfort in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net

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