“You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning."

Margaret Thatcher died yesterday.

I am somewhat grateful (and partly shocked) that my FB feed is not more filled with reactions.

When I said to G last night that she died, his response was "Good", which saddened me.

I grew up in the 80s. My only real memory of anything to do with Thatcher and Reaganomics was his shooting attempt because it was John Hinckley trying to impress Jodie Foster. I love Jodie and that bit of news freaked me out.

I admit to be ignorant to her politics and what she did to England. I'm relatively unaware of her ties to Reagan (who, apparently, my husband hates even more than her).

That said, I am disgusted by articles like this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/08/margaret-thatcher-death-party-brixton-glasgow
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/04/09/09/54/parties-break-out-to-celebrate-thatcher-s-death

Celebrating someone's death is harsh. I feel like a hypocrite because I am one of the first people to think that something is never OMG TOO SOON, but for some reason, I feel this is so distasteful.

The Maggie who died is not the same Maggie she was when she was in power. She was a frail old woman, suffering badly from dementia.

Writer Mark Millar tweeted: "Anybody sad about Thatcher today has clearly not read a newspaper since 1979."

Well, Mr Millar, I have. There are worse people out there controlling various countries than Ms Thatcher. Hell, even when Hugo Chavez died, I asked one of my students how he felt about it, since he is Venezuelan and very politically minded. This student, at the start of the year, told me about his distrust and dislike of Chavez in no uncertain terms. However, when told of his death, the student admitted to me that he was really unsure how he felt. Would it change his country? Probably not. Could the damage be undone? Probably not. A human life, however polarizing, was still lost and he could not bring himself to celebrate or mourn.

I'm not sad, per se, having no attachement to that era politically but the reactions of people has really made me think about my own rather bleak and perhaps knee-jerk reactions to bad news. Around our house, bad/shocking/sad news of often met with scorn and bad jokes. I can guarantee you don't want to know what was said when the news broke of the Oscar Pistorius shootings or when Steve Irwin died.

I will be interested to see how this plays out in editorial cartoons over the next week. When Steve Jobs died, all the cartoons about his death showed him in 'heaven' and when Quaddafi died, all the cartoons about him showed him in 'hell'. Where will Maggie end up?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cartoon/2013/apr/08/margaret-thatcher-death-steve-bell-cartoon

RIP Maggie. I don't doubt that you made tough choices that hurt the UK but I have to admire you for your convictions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/08/margaret-thatcher-death-world-reaction

A conscience is like a boat or a car. If you feel you need one, rent it.

Every Friday night, I watched Dallas with my grandmother and then stayed the night with her.

I loved to hate JR, wished I was Bobby's daughter and loved the drama.

Today, I feel as though a huge part of my history is gone.

RIP Larry Hagman, you fucking bastard. I loved to hate you. I loved you in the new Dallas series. No one plays charming assholes like you did.

Larry Hagman dead at 81.

I have to wonder how they will write him out of the new series.

What's semi-ironic is that G and I had a discussion on the way home from the movies as to what was off-limits when it came to our bad jokes. He said if someone he loved died and someone else made fun of it, he'd be pissed. He tried to make a JR joke and I shot him down. DON'T FUCK WITH JR AND DALLAS MAN! I AM SERIOUS!!!

Also, I find it rather annoying that Larry's being remembered more for I Dream of Jeannie, which ran a mere 5 seasons rather than Dallas, which was on from 1978 to 1991. PRIORITIES PEOPLE!!!!

When Patrick Duffy (aka Bobby) dies, I will go into hiding. Just saying.

Also, as tribute, I may be using JR quotes for the rest of the year, rather than the Simpsons. Just so you know. 

If the passengers will look to their right, you will see a sad man.

I am sad sad sad.

Can you see this pic?

This is Jonny and Simone's flat. EMPTY! They are leaving Hong Kong FOR GOOD. WHO DOES THAT?!?!?

I spent so much time in this flat. So much. So many laughs and tears and drinks and dinners. Passing out on the couch after wine and movies. Pass-the-parcel for Abby's birthday. So. Many. Memories.

Bethany posted that pic and I cried. Big fat tears.

My friends are not allowed to leave HK! NO!

I am happy that they moved to New Zealand as they are a bit closer, but it's not Hong Kong!!!

:( :( :(


Troy posted on his FB that he lost a good, old friend this weekend, Melvin. That could only mean Melvin Cleveland. That makes me sad. Melvin was a loveable old coot and crusty but he had a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off his back.

RIP Melvin, you cranky old goat. I love you. I thought of you often, even tho I have not seen you since 1998.

Sad post is sad.