My state of melancholy has been going on for quite some time now. And despite various pockets of excitement here and there, overall I feel very degenerated and despondent. Hence, the lack of updates. To be honest, a lot has happened to me lately and under normal circumstances, I would have found a slew of material to comment on, but whether it be through a lack of motivation or a through a weakened spirit, I feel like I have nothing important to say.

But there is something I've been meaning to write about...

A little more than a week ago, I attended Disney's ABC Premiere at the California Adventure Theme Park. It was a day where the stars from ABC's new Fall lineup would come out and mingle with the fans, taking pictures, and answering questions. 

For my part, I was extremely excited to see John Ritter, whom I've loved as a little boy growing up and watching his portrayal of Jack Tripper on Three's Company. I still watch that show. When I had cable, I would wake up at 3 in the morning just to catch the two episodes airing every night. I can't wait for the DVD! 

Despite the fact that Jennifer Garner, Al and Peggy Bundy, Breckin Meyer, The Bachelor, the cast of NYPD Blue, Michelle Kwan, and other such celebrities were on hand, in my mind, they were merely bonuses. My main purpose was to get a chance to finally meet one of my all time favorite actors. In fact, I came early just so that I could get a photo op with the man.

But to my surprise and disappointment, despite getting there early, people were already lined up like crazy. So there was no chance for me to get a one on one picture with him. He showed up to roaring crowds and mob applause and was hounded by so many adoring fans! I had thought the bigger shows like Alias or NYPD Blue, or even The Bachelor, would have garnered a bigger audience, but no, they all paled in comparison to how many people showed up to see John Ritter and the cast of 8 Simple Rules.

And though many of the actors that weekend looked like they were forced to be there, or as if it were just a job, John thoroughly looked like he was enjoying himself. He took time to greet the fans and shake their hands. He even signed autographs, which wasn't allowed by Disney so that more picture time would be available. If it weren't for the escorts leading him away, he might have stayed and talked to each and every fan there!

I was ecstatic after meeting him and shaking his hand. See that picture above with the hands? Those are my hands! He came right up to where I was standing and shook all the crowds there. 

Needless to say, the morning that he passed away, I was woken up by several phone calls. Everyone in my family knows how much of a fan of his I've been. And not just Three's Company and Three's A Crowd either. I saw his movies like Problem Child. I've seen his TV movies like The Dreamer of Oz and It. I even watched his other shows from Hooperman to Hearts Afire and now 8 Simple Rules. When I found out, I was saddened at the loss, and in shock and awe after seeing him just days before. 

The one-hour tribute special John Ritter: Life of Laughter which played last night scored the number one rating with an estimated 14 million viewers, a testament to his huge fan base.  While it aired, I was glued in front of the TV set, tears swelling up in my eyes as his friends and fellow cast members recounted on the man that so many loved.

For some reason, I thought of my Dad at that moment.  I remembered when he died, and I was still only 10, I didn't cry for weeks.  Then all of a sudden, one night, for no reason, I broke out and cried all night.  No one, not even my mom or my aunts or uncles, could stop my tears that night.  It just all came out like a floodgate.  I guess it's because when I was small, I would watch Three's Company with my Dad, laughing at all the silly antics going on.  It didn't matter that I was too young to understand all the sexual innuendo, all that mattered was that he was fun to watch.  So in a way, another connection to my Dad has been lost.  And that just makes it all the more sad.