AG+G Weekly Wrap-UP #2

The One Where We All Lost a F.R.I.E.N.D

Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash

The One Where We All Lost a F.R.I.E.N.D

Check on your Gen X friends, we are not okay. This week we lost the Best-Friend-Most-of-us-Never-Knew-In-Real-Life, Matthew Perry. I’m not sure why his death hurts so much. I think it’s partly because these 6 friends were like us. (Fun fact: The original title for Friends was Friends Like Us.) They were our age. He was 54 years old. They showed us how to navigate young adulthood. They were the friends we wish we had. We watched him weekly for 10 years. I don’t think the younger generations understand the slow relationships we built watching a show one episode a week for years. We all grew up together.

For me, the bigger part of the sadness is knowing how much Matthew struggled during these past 30 years with addiction. I remember a few years ago, watching the Friends Reunion Special and thinking, “He is not okay.” Collectively, we all wanted him to win. We wanted him to get better. We hoped to see an older, wiser, and still funny Matthew who was doing okay. Now he’s gone, and it hurts knowing he didn’t get to live the ending we all wanted for him. Or if he did, not for long enough.

This past Summer, I listened to his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing on Libby (it’s a free app connected to your Library card —if you don’t have it, get it.) I gave it 5 out of 5 stars, in case you’re wondering. Matthew narrates the audiobook and it adds a lot of dimension to hear his voice, even though we all can read it in his voice in our heads.

Could his voice BE any more memorable?

His book gave me a deeper understanding of addiction. It gave me increased compassion for people like Matthew who are trying and trying to break free. One of the bigger things that stood out to me was the fact that he wrote this book at all. He certainly didn’t need the money. He & all of the other castmates still earn royalties from Friends.

He did it to increase awareness and understanding of drug addiction. He did it to help others. I admired him for it and still do. In the middle of his darkest days, he was there to help anyone who needed it. That’s a heckuva selfless way to live life.

Rest in peace Matthew. Thank you for helping so many others along the way. Your legacy will live on.

PS. You can watch Friends on HBO, all 10 seasons live there.

This is a great article on Matthew’s wishes:

• Perry wanted to be remembered more for helping others get sober than for Friends. - per Michaela Zee in Variety.

Netflix Recommendation

Have you watched “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones” on Netflix? I heard about it when Emily Ley mentioned it in her Substack . She interviewed her 68 year old vibrant Mom, Stephanie. Stephanie mentioned the series and I had to check it out. You can read the interview with her Mom here.

It’s a 4 episode series that takes a little under 4 hours to watch. It is fascinating to see so many VERY old people active and thriving - even right here in the United States! It has inspired both me + my husband to incorporate these small changes in our lives.

Travel around the world with author Dan Buettner to discover five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives.

The Golden Batchelor Update

Well this week was a tough one on The Golden Batchelor. Gerry had to eliminate one of the three remaining ladies AFTER visiting their families. I get it this is part of the show and everyone involved understands, but my gosh, I can’t imagine having to deal with my own heartbreak at not being picked PLUS my family’s feelings. Especially all of the grandkids. I had anxiety just watching. Gah!!

Then, The Batchelor did something I don’t like. They left us not knowing!!!

Gerry has a difficult decision on his hands (and in his heart.) We know he chose Leslie as one of the final two because she got a rose. We don’t know if it’ll be Faith or Theresa who gets the second. Either way, Gerry was pretty torn up. Of the two, I hope he picks Theresa.

This is such a strange concept for a show and an even stranger one for everyone involved to find love.

Who do you predict he’ll end up with?

I’ve been rooting for Theresa all along, but I’m guessing Gerry will end up with Leslie. Faith doesn’t want to leave her home or country lifestyle. Even though Gerry seems to really like her, a lot, I think she’s not going to make it to the final two because of this. Theresa’s daughter told him that her Mom is at her house every day & asked him how that would work. I think Gerry is looking for someone who’s willing to come into his life, instead of him relocating into theirs. Leslie seemed the most likely to do that.

We’ll find out next week. See ya then!

ICYMI

Catch up with me here: I Lost my Dead Dad

God gave me a dose of humor when I most needed it.

Thanks so much for your love + support. I appreciate each one of you who subscribes.

AG+G Subscriber Essay of the Week

What Writers Love More Than Anything Else by Katrin Schuma. Kat writes over at The Curious Kat. Kat, thank you for being a subscriber to AG+G.

You can read her article here :)

“There’s something magical and slightly scary about being in a state of flow, and it’s the holy grail. It doesn’t happen all that often and when it does it fuels me for months on end.”

A Book with a Middle Aged Main Character

I just finished reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and it is 5 star worthy. I listened to this book and the audio version is narrated by Meryl Streep. Yes, that Meryl Streep! She adds so much depth to the book. I loved that Lara, our main character, is in her 50’s.

Here’s a blurb about it from Amazon:

In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.

You can buy Tom Lake right here. (I don’t make any money from these links, just making life a little easier for you.)

Laugh with Me

If you made it this far, this will make you laugh. This skit is so true. As a Mom of 2 kids who both have English as their second language, I can’t even tell you how relatable this is. Why is everything American so confusing?

George Washington’s dream for America. - Nate Bargatze on SNL

Thank you for supporting my writing. It means the world to me.

Xo,

K

Photo by Arnold Dogelis on Unsplash