One of the consequences of the death of a totem figure is all the eloquent writing it unleashes in those left behind. Column inches capturing the alchemy of every Bowie there ever was continue to line up uniformly on the screen; like mourners taking off their caps to respectfully watch the hearse go by.
I am not one of those writers, but I’m glad I jokingly (if in all seriousness) suggested a moment’s silence at his passing at the end of a work meeting this morning. Sixty-somethings turned to thirty-somethings to compare shock and surprise. Forty-somethings joked with fifty-somethings that they’d never heard of him until a seventy-something interrupted the joke to point out the expanse of his legacy.
For a few minutes at least, they weren’t PSNI officers, or civil servants, or opposing sectoral soldiers, or silent minute-takers, but fans and admirers. Another reminder of the power of music in knocking down barriers and levelling the ground between us all.
David Bowie R.I.P.
department of speculation 
The best comment on his passing I’ve read.
Me too
Ach thanks, tric 🙂 I’m guessing you were a fan?
Actually not hugely, but my timeline was flooded with posts about him. Some were interesting, others a little OTT, but then I read yours and I thought, yes that is a perfect way to mark his passing.
You should read this when you get a chance, tric http://dokearney.blogspot.ie/2016/01/a-beautiful-exit.html
Mostly the passing of the famous doesn’t touch me that much – but I was shocked to hear of David Bowie. Sneaked up and whacked me in the stomach.
Same as that. It still feels quite surreal. And just how he chose to handle it and leave the world with a parting gift makes it all the more… provocative? I dunno. Continuing to read so many fine tributes to him from various spheres. From planet blog, I really like this one: https://gordondarroch.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/bowie/
I’ll have a look at that. It’s one thing ca
Stoopid phone interupting my eloquence. I was trying to say that the one thing Cancer can give is time to prepare. It’s how I was with my Mum, though I didn’t ask enough or say enough. But then who does?
I’m sure, birdie. I’d imagine having time to prepare is a mixed curse. Sorry to hear you went through this with your Mum.
http://dokearney.blogspot.ie/2016/01/a-beautiful-exit.html
My twenty-something son woke me Sunday night to tell me about David Bowie’s passing. He asked me Monday night if I “flew the flag at half-mast” at the office. I thought for a moment and concluded that to the extent I know the people at work, I do not believe a single one of them once intentionally listened to Bowie or knew much about him.