He was so many things. The addiction recovery folks can own him as a portrait of one who struggled with addiction, largely overcoming and spending decades sober.The Depression treatment advocates will do the same. Of course, these two are in the same camps, with side by side tents.
Kids own him as The Genie from Alladin. When I was their age, I owned him too. He was Mork from the planet Ork. I remember him on Happy Days, battling the fonz when I was ten years old.
Intellectuals can point to him in his role in Dead Poets Society. Therapists to his role in Good Will Hunting. (Favorite movie of mine.) He took on faith in "What Dreams May Come", gender roles in "Mrs. Doubtfire" and he was our "Patch Adams", everyones' doctor who worked so hard at healing himself.
He was so many things to all of us, and we grew up with him. It wasn't supposed to end this way, but I don't begrudge or judge what anybody has done to deal with the darkness inside. (well, most of the time, at least) He fought his battle longer and tougher than most. Looking back at his life it seems to be a mix of tragedy, comedy, drama, heroism--the whole spectrum of what it means to be alive. Seems he was from a different planet, but who better than an alien to help us celebrate what it means to be human.
