[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by michelej1

The thing is, if they go away and retire quietly, we won't see them. I WANT to see them. What makes me sadder than seeing aged celebs is having them quietly fade away with less than a whimper, with a soundless disappearance. I hate that.

I always understand when the families want them to leave the limelight with their dignity intact, but it nags at me. I respect their privacy, but I want to know how it ended. Did they succumb to dementia? I want to take that last journey with them. I mean, it wouldn't be the best thing for them, but I've always been selfish and possessive and it would be the best thing for me.

Yes, seeing stars performing with dementia like Glenn Campbell and Tony Bennett was sad. Seeing Lindsey look so weak in the hospital bed after his surgery was sad and shocking, especially when we had no way of predicting what kind of recovery was in his future.

But just seeing them old and slow and voiceless . . . well, it's sad, but not as sad as the alternatives, for me.

Every 6 months or so, there are photos of Ringo and Paul McCartney going out to dinner and they hug outside of the restaurant and even after all that has happened, there's a part of me that just wants that for our crew. I want the hugs. Even though I know you guys will scoff at how phony they are.

I didn't want a retired Christine, happy, ensconced with her dogs away from my view. I wanted her slogging it out on stage, voice gone, unable to play keyboards, but up there with people I used to imagine she loved. I want that fantasy. I want it before death takes that last bastion of hope away.

I want them looking at each other with familiarity, tolerance, loathing cloaked by greed. I don't care.

Oh, that moment in SYLM when Lindsey says "yeaaaaah" and Christine points at him. It hurts to think I'll never see that again. Bring it on. Canes and all.

What Steve said. I went to really see Mick, John and Christine. I understand what you're saying.