Topic: Entertainment
We have been very large fans of the writings, musings, and critiques of film critic and author Roger Ebert since we first learned of his wonderful job that we were briefly able to inhabit while in college. He was smart, funny, didn't mince words that he was entertained by a movie that many other critics, by in large, loathed, and always showed a reason why he's a Pulitzer Prize-winning journo.
So we've been disheartened in these last couple of years as he has hit a few walls with various illnesses that have taken our dear teddy bear movie buff away from us. Now, Roger Ebert proves why we like him, something that we've never been able to outright put our finger on; the dude has courage and integrity. All while making us laugh.
So let’s talk turkey. What will I look like? To paraphrase a line from “Raging Bull,” I ain’t a pretty boy no more. (Not that I ever was. The original appeal of “Siskel & Ebert” was that we didn’t look like we belonged on TV.)
What happened was, cancer of the salivary gland spread to my right lower jaw. A segment of the mandible was removed. Two operations to replace the missing segment were unsuccessful, both leading to unanticipated bleeding.
A tracheostomy was necessary so, for the time being, I cannot speak. I make do with written notes and a lot of hand waving and eye-rolling. The doctors now plan an approach that does not involve the risk of unplanned bleeding. If all goes well, my speech will be restored.
So when I turn up in Urbana, I will be wearing a gauze bandage around my neck, and my mouth will be seen to droop. So it goes.
Continued:
At least, not being able to speak, I am spared the need to explain why every film is “overlooked,” or why I wrote “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.”
Being sick is no fun. But you can have fun while you’re sick. I wouldn’t miss the festival for anything!
P.S. to gossip rags: I have some back pain, and to make it easier for me to sit through screenings, the festival has installed my very own La-Z-Boy chair.
Photos of me in the chair should be captioned “La-Z-Critic.”
See? This is a real optimistic spirit. Fights off cancer, strokes, and other various horrific illnesses mutliple times, and goes right back to entertaining us. Thank you Roger Ebert, for proving your worth yet again to those that will listen. Hopefully more people will start paying attention and grow from your example.
