I was going to write an article about practical new year's resolutions for college students, but after the sudden deaths of both Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher occurred over the time span of just two days, I felt that I should right this article instead.
I grew up as a kid watching Disney Channel, and one of my favorite movies was "Halloweentown". Something about escaping the world on a school bus to a magical dimension where creatures, such as the boogie man, ghosts, goblins, witches and werewolves become normal, made me want to live in that world. While the main focus of the movie's plot is about a teenage girl who learns that she is a witch on her 13 birthday, my favorite character was always her grandma, Grandma Aggie. Grandma Aggie was America's Grandma and her kookiness, corkiness, spunkiness and magical smile helped to make "Halloweentown" the success it was. While, I know that Debbie Reynolds was also known for "Singin' In The Rain" and other films, I will always remember her for her role as Grandma Aggie and the magic she brought into my childhood.
The Star Wars movies weren't a big part of my childhood, but were a big part of my teenage years and an even bigger part of my life now. Princess Leia was a strong, bold character who was a beacon of hope throughout the Star Wars movies. One of Princess Leia's most famous quotes was “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.” Not only was the character Carrie played in Star Wars, a beacon of hope and a light shining in the dark world, but Carrie also was a lot like Princess Leia in her own life. Carrie Fisher was a major mental health advocate and also spoke out about her manic depression and bipolar disorder. She wanted "to erase the stigma around mental illness". When Carrie Fisher spoke out about her own mental health, she inspired her fans to do so as well. Carrie Fisher was not only a beacon of hope taken out of the galaxy, but when she died a light went out that made the world a little darker.
The most devastating thing is that Debbie Reynolds passed away just a day after her daughter's death. Carrie Fisher had a massive heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles and passed away in hospital on December 27. Just 24 hours later, while planning Carrie's funeral at her son Todd's house, Debbie Reynolds suffered from a stroke and passed away on December 28. The real chilling thing is that sources say Debbie Reynold's last words were, "I miss her so much. I want to be with Carrie." I guess it is true what people say, you can die from a broken heart. Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, not only were mother and daughter, but they were best friends and Carrie's death was too much for Debbie to handle. Their unbreakable bond wasn't broken even in death.
In a matter of 48 hours, the world lost two of the brightest lights and two of the most strong and talented women. My heart goes out to their family, especially Todd Fisher who lost both his sister and mother, and Billie Lourd who lost both her mother and grandmother. May they both rest in peace together, forever and always.