Sunday, October 10, 2004

In Memoriam - Christopher Reeve

I was a kid during the 70's and most of the 80's so my Superman was always Christopher Reeve. I dreamed of being Lois Lane and flying high in the heavens with him.

Can you read my mind?
Do you know what it is that you do to me?
I don't know who you are
Just a friend from another star
Here I am like a kid out of school
Holding hands with a god
I'm a fool
Will you look at me
Quivering
Like a little girl
Shivering
You can see right through me
Can you read my mind?
Can you picture the things I'm thinking of?
Wondering why you are
All the wonderful things you are
You can fly!
You belong in the sky!
You and I
Could belong to each other
If you need a friend
I'm the one to fly to
If you need to be loved
Here I am
Read my mind

One of my favorite movies is "Somewhere in Time." I even read his book "Still Me" that he wrote after having his accident. For one of my college comp classes, I wrote a semiotic paper about Superman being an idol for all people. I didn't picture a mythical Superman as I wrote my paper, I pictured Chris Reeve. I wrote how Superman could appeal to people from all religions since he came from the heavens and was a mystical figure much like an angel. I wrote how immigrants could relate to him because he too was an alien on this earth. I talked about how he had to work to assimilate and fit in so he developed the character Clark Kent in order to be accepted by others. I related it to how many immigrants are forced to do the same thing. I got an "A" on the paper, thanks to him. After his accident, Chris Reeve could have disappeared from the public eye to fight his disabilities in quiet. But, he didn't, he used his public image to work for getting research and funding. He gave hope to many who didn't have it before. He might not have been Superman any more but he was a hero to many.

Chris Reeve died today.  He can now be Superman and fly in the heavens once again. May his family find comfort and those lives he inspired not give up hope.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I saw the breaking news....and I was like...awwwww.  I too saw all his superman movies, being a child from the 70-80's, I also loved "Somewhere In Time" as well.  After the accident, I thought....well, that's it.  But, I was very wrong there.
He was very inspiring.
Great entry. :)  

Anonymous said...

this news is really really sad.  i didn't know it until i got your journal alert.  ...tears...  'somewhere in time' is such a sad, bittersweet movie.  

goodbye, dear superman.

Anonymous said...

I was saddened by the news.  Like you, he has always been the Superman I remembered the most from my childhood.

He was definitely a man of character & strength throughout his life especially after his accident.

May he always fly free now.  

Anonymous said...

I just heard on the early morning show.  He was a champion.

Anonymous said...

That is sad but  know he is in a better place now.  john

Anonymous said...

I just heard this and I'm so very sorry. I too grew up watching Superman and he will always be just that. I had always pictured him one day being able to walk like he was so determined to do. Prayers....

Beautiful entry Robbie!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful entry Robbie, he was loved by many and will no doubt be missed.
                       *** Coy ***

Anonymous said...

He was SuperMan in every sense of the word.

Anonymous said...

Somewhere in Time is one of my favorite soundtracks, so today, my journal is featuring parts of it in his memory.  When I hear the music I picture him staring at that portrait.

We are all so going to miss his presence.  So very sad.

~~ jennifer

Anonymous said...

Somewhere in time is one of my favorite movies....Christopher Reeve will be greatly missed...how sad.

http://journals.aol.com/derasta/ADayInTheLife

Anonymous said...

It is sad.. even superman has to die.. we all are fragile and this life is a vapor in time.

Anonymous said...

I always enjoyed him as an actor, but I came to truly admire and respect him after his accident and subsequent paralysis.  In having the worst happen, he found the best within himself to offer to the world.  In showing his true humanity he did become a super man to me.

Anonymous said...

If anyone ever made the best of a bad situation, it was him. :-(

Anonymous said...

As I just stated in Amy's Hippie journal, Somewhere in Time was one of my favorite movies growing up.  I too picture him in his Superman suit flying right now celebrating that he is no longer imprisioned by his body or his wheelchair.
-Kari

Anonymous said...

What a sad day this is.  
Bless his heart.  He fought so
hard to keep in shape.  He truly
believed that they would someday
find a cure for spinal cord injuries and
that he would walk again.
His poor family.   I know they are
just devastated.
Love you honey!
Connie

Anonymous said...

I'm all teary from that song. I remember that.

Anonymous said...

I love "Somewhere in Time."  We discovered it on HBO umpteen years ago, and I have loved it ever since.  Christopher Reeve was (IS) a beautiful, strong, and inspiring soul.  He really WAS Superman.  Lisa  :-]  

Anonymous said...

Robbie, What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. When Christopher got hurt, I thought like so many people, that if he could walk again, it would happen to him after all he was Superman, then the awful truth started to settle in our minds and what a hero he was to so many people. I saw how he fought for spinal cord injuries and how he used his name and his celebrity status to get help for a relatively unknown situation. I cried this morning when I heard and I was in such shock. He will be missed and I hope that his family knows how much he was loved and how we are saying prayers for him and his family.  :-(

Anonymous said...

Wonderful entry.

I grew up with Christopher Reeve as my Superman, too. Had SUCH a crush on him. Watching the Superman movies was like ... I don't know, can't think of the right word. I was just fascinated with Reeves' Superman. I wanted to give Clark Kent a hug and I wanted Superman to give ME a hug.

Somewhere In Time is one of my favorite movies, too. I've got the music soundtrack also! The whole thing makes me sigh from head to toe.

It's hard to believe that he's dead. My heart breaks when truly inspirational people die. It's such a powerful loss for the rest of us.

I'll miss you, super man.

Anonymous said...

Robbie, wonderful tribute to my "superman too ". I will fess up it was Lynne who told me, but please don't yell at her, Love ya and your new do.....MoM
Comment from Mom - 10/11/04 2:28 PM

Above comment deleted for security purposes. Hee - hee, I knew it would work.
But, drat I don't have any baby pics of her. - :-) ---Robbie

Anonymous said...

Wonderful tribute for a very special man. Sad day.

Angela

Anonymous said...


Beautiful Entry

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Robbie.  I adored him as a young girl and was so upset when he broke his neck.  His accident brought new words to my vocabulary ...especially stem cell research.  I pray he's at peace and flying for real now.  ~Peachy

Anonymous said...

What a good man........ judi

Anonymous said...

i'M SO SAD ABOUT cHRISTOPHER.  i'M SURE HE'S AN ANGEL NOW.  oH AND i LOVE YOUR NEW HAIR....

Anonymous said...

Hey Robbie

Lovely tribute to a fine man. A true man. "Somewhere In Time" is my favorite romantic movie, and of course what girl wouldn't swoon a bit when he and Lois Lane are flying and reading each other's mind. :::Sigh:::

Always, Carly :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Robbie,

He was also one of my favorites and I just knew that he would walk one day and I was moritfied when Cutiepie told me that moring that Christopher Reeve passed away.  I just thought he was playing a morbid joke on me and I told him so.  He kept denying that he was playing a morbid joke and then I saw that he was not and I was flaberbgasted.

Hugs,
Anita

Anonymous said...

Great tribute, Robbie.  I honestly believe it was the way he lived his life AFTER the accident that inspired more people than his acting endeavors BEFORE the accident.  He wasn't Superman.  He was just a man, a good man, a brave man.  What a loss.  :(