Where were you when Jim Henson died?

[Ernie101]

Wow, that was pretty dang good.

Saddening..but it was good.

 

[fuzzygobo]

I was a week away from graduating from Montclair State University, and Jim's death seemed to shut the door forever on my childhood- I felt that childlike innocence would be gone forever, and now I was forced to grow up and become part of the big bad adult world. The rest of 1990 was a bummer for me, but slowly I was able to accept his death, and the big bad world doesn't seem as scary. The greatest lesson I learned from Jim was to love others, and like Kermit in the Muppet Movie, one of my goals in life is to make other people happy.

15 years later, I feel more like a kid than ever before, that childlike innocence and that spirit of wonder still lives on in me, and I've found a number of ways to express myself artistically that Jim would be proud of. I'm writing and illustrating a children's book (with help from another devoted Muppet fan), I dabble with puppets, and embrace Jim's spirit every day.

Thanks for everything you touched, Jim, including my heart.

 

[Gonzo14]

for some of us younger members, the only muppet stuff we saw before Henson died was Sesame Street, since they usually show reruns for a couple years mixed in with new stuff. I too never had the shock of discovering that he died, since he's been gone as long as I can remember

 

[Gorgon Heap]

I'm gonna go right ahead and double-post, just so nobody misses it:

You can't top mine.

I was 7. My 8th birthday was the next day, May 17th. I was at the kitchen table, eating dinner with my family, and watching the news on our little black and white TV (where I had often watched TMS and SS). The newscaster announced the death of Sammy Davis Jr. at the age of 64. They showed some clips. I remember a little voice in my head saying "at least it wasn't Jim Henson". Then the newscaster said Jim Henson was dead (I can't remember his exact words). I instantly started crying, the dream of meeting my idol was over, and the next day at school everyone was telling me the news, as I was my class's resident Muppet obsessor. That's all I remember about my 8th birthday.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

 

[mummytomb]

My Dad and I had Just hopped in the car after an orthodontist appointment. Iwas in the sixth grade. I remember holding it together just long enough to get home then I ran to my room, locked the door, and cried for the rest of the day.

I blame you, Arsenio Hall!