The year is scarce two full weeks old, and yet already so much loss.

I was flippant in my mentioning of the passing of Lemmy Kilmister and need to rectify that. Lemmy, if you do not know, was the bassist and lead singer for the metal band Motorhead. Straight forward, no frills, booze and smokes metal music. He turned 70 on December 24th, 2015, discovered he had an aggressive form of cancer on the 26th, and left us on the 28th.  He once did a couple months stint as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix. He was a no bullshit, tell ya off if need be, real regular guy.

Then, on the 10th of this month, it was the man of many faces. Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke, The Goblin King. David Bowie, also from cancer, at age 69. A musician, actor, and visionary of a type. He didn’t let himself be content with just doing things the way everyone else did. He pushed and pulled at the boundaries and dared others to follow.

And, again at age 69 of cancer, Alan Rickman on the 14th. The mad Sheriff of Nottingham. Annoyed Metatron. Devious Hans Gruber. Poor Marvin. And most recently, for so many of us, my Head of House, The Half-Blood Prince, Professor Severus Snape. By all accounts, a gentle and gracious man who would bend over backwards for his friends at the drop of a hat.

One after the other in such quick succession has left many of us quite shell shocked and a bit numb. That it was all from cancer is the cruel twist that will further link these three fine men.

Going to raise a cup for them at my geek meeting on Tuesday and say a few words. You are never truly gone so long as your name is remembered. And these names will ever be remembered.

I leave you with a tweet I saw after Bowie’s death, but one that could be an equal tribute to all three.

Malloy O’Meara (@sexoskeleton):
Honor Bowie by doing that great/terrifying/weird/creative thing that only you can do. Even if you’re scared. Today is a good day to start.

See what the others are sharing at this week’s coffee share.