In shock

I went to sit down on the couch for my nightly visit with the NBC Nightly News when Brian Williams leads off the newscast with the following breaking news:

MICHAEL JACKSON DEAD AT 50

What...the...hell? My jaw literally fell to the floor. I stayed glued to my spot on the couch for the entire broadcast--even the commercials. I can't believe he's gone.

And this, coupled with the fact that Farrah Fawcett died earlier today, makes this one of the most tragic, sad days Hollywood has experienced in a very long time.

I remember when I was in the eighth grade, and I came home to the news that Sammy Davis, Jr. had died. I was saddened; I was raised on re-runs of 70s variety shows and really enjoyed his performances.

Then I was upstairs about an hour before dinner, doing my homework, when my sister wailed from the living room. That's how I found out that Jim Henson had died.

That news sent me over the edge. Sammy Davis, Jr.'s death was horrible, but for Jim Henson to die in the same day--and die so young--was too much to deal with.

Jim Henson was an institution in our house. Sister Kitten and I have been huge Muppet freaks since we were born. For us, losing Jim Henson was like losing a member of the family.

And now, something similar has happened today, with the premature deaths of two pop culture icons. I don't know what else to say other than, while I wasn't a huge fan of either Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett, I'm still very saddened by the news of their passings. I feel terribly for their families and their loved ones right now.