Wednesday, June 6, 2012
There Will Come Soft Rains
The man who made me want to be a writer is dead.
When I was about ten or twelve, I read a story by Ray Bradbury called "There Will Come Soft Rains", and it quite literally changed my life. I've already talked about that here on this blog; here's the link to it, if you're interested: "To Keith, Thanks, Ray Bradbury".
I'm not shocked, of course. After all, he was 91 years old. Most of his contemporaries died DECADES ago. By all rights, Bradbury shouldn't have lived as long as he did. To what do we owe his longevity? I'm going to guess:
Joy. Pure and simple. He loved what he did. He loved the life he'd chosen for himself. I once read an interview with him in which he said he'd "never done a real day's work" in his whole life. Which is only kind of true; writing is work. But the thing is, it was work that he loved, and if you love doing something, it doesn't really feel like work, does it?
Sometimes I complain about writing. "Oh, writing this story is like pulling teeth." "It's lonely, sitting by yourself and putting words together." "It's maddening, this business of pouring out your darkest heart on the page." Sob, sob, sob. Ray Bradbury probably would've slapped me right in the head for all that whining.
"Where is your joy?" he'd probably say to me. "Where is your appreciation? You have a gift, and you have the leisure to use it. You are lucky."
Yeah.
Bradbury was a bit of a sentimentalist. I'm not. And yet... and yet I feel profoundly sad about his death. I feel like some vital part of my own life has slipped away, even though it wasn't the man himself that affected me-- it was his stories. And they are still here. They won't die, ever.
I can't explain it.
The deaths of famous people rarely affect me. I felt sad when Johnny Cash died, and Joey Ramone. That's about it. And for the same reason that I now feel sad about Bradbury-- they were prime figures in my formative years.
Well.
R.I.P., Ray. And thank you. You are gone, but the world will continue on without you, just like that automated house in "There Will Come Soft Rains". It will continue to function, without your direct influence anymore, but something vital and life-like will be missing. It will continue until, finally, it doesn't.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
A grand tribute, Heath. What a marvelous life and body of work this man had! I have a nice collection of his books; most are almost as old as me!
ReplyDeleteBradbury played a role in "that decision" for me too. Wasn't his biggest fan, but I loved the freedom with which he wrote stories. Whether it was in space or in a deep future or in places that will never exist, he never bothered with boundaries, so therefore I loved his work.
ReplyDelete91 years is plenty of laps around the track, but still I'll drink to his memory.
I remember when your introduction to Ray Bradbury happened. It truly did change your life. A wonderful remembrance that you share with us all. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI read Sound of Thunder in grade school and it changed my life too. Thanks for putting my thoughts into words. Not since the death of Jim Henson, another joyful soul, have I felt this sad about the death of a public figure.
ReplyDeleteI remember being blown away by SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES and DANDELION WINE especially. Few writers have had such a big impact on 20th century writing.
ReplyDeleteI second DANDELION WINE, and SOMETHING WICKED, and add R IS FOR ROCKET. He made me, too, want to be like him, a writer, someone who makes people feel things. I usually don't get sad when celebrities die, either, but this one is sad, despite his advanced age. Musicians get me more. Abbey Lincoln's passing hit me hard. Don Pullen. Thelonious Monk.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Heath.
Beautiful tribute.
ReplyDeleteNice homage, H. Bradbury's 'The Illustrated Man' and 'Fahrenheit 451' changed my life in early high school. Respect.
ReplyDeleteHi there to every one, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this webpage’s post to be updated daily. It contains nice stuff. 토토
ReplyDeleteYou have mentioned very interesting points! 경마사이트
ReplyDeleteQuality articles or reviews is the important to interest the people to pay a quick
ReplyDeletevisit the website, that’s what this site is providing. 온라인카지노
Most liked about 카지노사이트 우리카지노 온라인카지노 Job
ReplyDeleteI’m impressed, I must say. I’m here for the first time. Superb! I simply must tell you that I really love your blogs page. My boyfriend enjoys your blogs.
ReplyDelete무료야설
오피헌터
마사지블루
스포츠마사지
카지노
özel ambulans
ReplyDeletelisans satın al
minecraft premium
en son çıkan perde modelleri
en son çıkan perde modelleri
nft nasıl alınır
uc satın al
yurtdışı kargo
Good content. You write beautiful things.
ReplyDeletehacklink
sportsbet
mrbahis
sportsbet
vbet
vbet
taksi
mrbahis
hacklink
instagram takipçi satın al
ReplyDeletecasino siteleri
sms onay
O0ZQ
thanks for sharing this is very helpful
ReplyDeletebetmatik
kralbet
betpark
tipobet
slot siteleri
kibris bahis siteleri
poker siteleri
bonus veren siteler
mobil ödeme bahis
K3İK
betpark
ReplyDeletetipobet
betmatik
mobil ödeme bahis
poker siteleri
kralbet
slot siteleri
kibris bahis siteleri
bonus veren siteler
WTİUHA
kralbet
ReplyDeletebetpark
tipobet
slot siteleri
kibris bahis siteleri
poker siteleri
bonus veren siteler
mobil ödeme bahis
betmatik
O8FF
uşak
ReplyDeletetokat
mecidiyeköy
kayseri
hatay
1QS55