pink vanilla cupcakes: But Wait, There’s More!

Wow, what a week this has been for celebrity death pool players. First Farrah Fawcett, and then Michael Jackson, and then Billy Mays. You’ve certainly heard by now how deaths come in threes? Well, sure looked that way last weekend. Trifecta of amazing personalities and memorable moments. Jill Monroe was my favorite of all of Charlie’s Angels. I thought she was so cool. Did you watch Farrah’s Story? It’s the documentary she filmed about her cancer struggle. They filmed through early 2009 and it was evident then that she was nearing the end. It was a lovely tribute.

And then, Michael Jackson. I first heard about him being rushed to the hospital on Twitter. That’s also where I heard he had died. It was amazing how fast and furious the Tweets came in about him dying. I was an enormous Michael Jackson fan when I was younger. I was sad that his life had become such a sad circus full of enablers and hangers on. Like everyone else, I was troubled by the molestation claims and wondered if that whole ordeal would do him in. I feel bad for his children. I mean, if they are his children—there are reports that they aren’t even his children. Here comes the tabloid craziness. This will last for months—remember Anna Nicole? Ugh.

Lastly, Billy Mays died on Sunday. Geesh. Yes, he wasn’t even in the same stratosphere as Jackson or Farrah. I loved watching him on his show Pitchmen on the Discovery Channel. He was so interesting and just so much fun to watch. I grew up going to the Canfield Fair, a county fair in Ohio that rivaled most states fairs. Part of my childhood memories are of watching pitchmen try to sell my parents the latest mop, cutlery set, or wood burning stove (they bought all three and then some!) I thought they looked so cool with their microphones attached to their ears and their smooth delivery. I loved watching their pitch. Turns out Billy Mays most likely was at that fair while I was a kid so I most likely watched him in person. That would be cool!

So, yes, these are just 3 of the millions of people who died over the last week. I know. But, still, 2 of these people were huge icons from the 80s and one was a big burly guy with a booming voice who helped every day inventors sell their products to millions. He changed their lives for sure.