Fellow lovers of rock, today we all mourn the loss of our David Bowie. He had been battling cancer for 18 months. He was 69 years old and his birthday was just this past Friday, he also released his last album that day. I was so shocked when I read the news, because he had kept his illness out of the press. I just kept thinking about how he literally released a new album just days ago, how could this be? Evidently David Bowie actually intended to this last album, Blackstar, to be a farewell gift; the last he would be able to give his fans.

I’ve always loved David Bowie and his ever-changing personas, his style, his voice- heck, I even adore his hair over the years. Sometime mid-afternoon on New Year’s Eve, I got into my car, a bit emotionally distressed. I was sick, stressing out about a lot of things- I was simply a mess. When I turned on the radio, I was excited to hear Bowie’s classic “Golden Years”. I shrieked in excitement by myself in my car because I hadn’t heard that song in a while and I missed it. However, I soon realized it was actually ending. Pretty sure I started swearing in my poor Ruby Tuesday. I wasn’t in the mood or didn’t like whatever played after that, but the next channel I changed it to, “Golden Years” had just begun. I’ve had a lot of lovely moments with my radio, but this one has to be the best. Somehow, somewhere, it was understood that I truly needed that song at that moment. I don’t even remember which station it was, but I simply felt blessed. Like it was meant to be a sign, to show me that I would be alright.

I read the news last night just before I went to bed, and it actually took me over an hour to fall asleep after reading that. I was too stunned, too upset, also in pure disbelief. I read some more of Before the Awakening (yes, it’s a Star Wars book) to focus on something else and eventually I was able to slumber. And I was just thinking about him earlier that night, too; when I was working on my previous blog post, I was writing about Almost Famous, this fantastic rock and roll movie. There is a scene at a hotel where the rock stars are staying at, and David Bowie is there (played by an actor, but still), and this Bowie fan in the lobby who had just been complaining about Bowie’s work at the time just can’t even help himself when he catches a glimpse of his idol heading towards the elevator. Just watch the first twenty seconds or so. Watch him scream in excitement, and look at the other fans around dressed like David Bowie.

Needless to say, I have spent most of my day listening to my favorite David Bowie songs, which include but are not limited to the following: “Let’s Dance”(definitely my #1), “Rebel, Rebel”, “Suffragette City”, “I’m Afraid of Americans”, and so forth. Right now I’m actually watching Guardians of the Galaxy…I know, it only has one David Bowie song in it, but it makes me happy. That’s another movie I can watch a billion times in a row and never get tired of. But when I’m simply listening to the music, I’m dancing around in my room. I’m dancing all over the place, like when Mick Jagger joined David Bowie for some dancing in the street.

Today, my tears and my happiness are dedicated to you, David Bowie. My thoughts and prayers are with your wife, children, and the rest of your family.

Rock in Peace.