Dear 2016,
Let’s address the elephant in the room: what exactly were you thinking? On behalf of us all, I want to express a collective “What on earth?” to your outrageous antics this year.
In a time when we desperately needed the comfort of our beloved artists and entertainers, you chose to rob us of them. With chaos reigning from divisive politics to scandals and espionage, we yearned for the solace that music and television from our childhood could provide. We needed our icons to remind us everything would be alright, to bring us back to a happier time when we could laugh instead of worrying about the state of the world.
Instead, you systematically took away our favorites, dealing us one gut-wrenching loss after another. It felt like a cruel joke, leaving us without our comforting security blankets when we needed them the most.
Our Cherished Icons
Let’s break it down: the loss of legends like Prince and David Bowie hit hard. They were the soundtrack of our youth, the voices that accompanied our rebellious moments and personal milestones. Their absence leaves an undeniable void, and it’s infuriating that you decided to take them from us.
And then there’s Sarah Hartman. Seriously? This fierce, inspiring figure was a role model for countless girls growing up. Her candid discussions about mental health and addiction made her relatable, bringing light to issues that many face. Not to mention, her iconic role in When Harry Met Sally was nothing short of legendary. Losing her, among others, is something we won’t soon recover from.
Alan Rickman’s passing was another blow, especially for fans of the Harry Potter series. Every time we revisit those tales, a shadow looms over the nostalgia when we remember he’s no longer with us. And let’s not even get started on how many tears we’ve shed over Love Actually without him.
You’ve really pushed us to our limits this year, 2016. And let’s not pretend other years haven’t had their share of losses, but it feels like this particular year was an unending procession of grief. The Willy Wonka generation was counting on you to allow some of our beloved stars to remain with us. You could have spared Gene Wilder; he didn’t deserve to lose his golden ticket to the afterlife this year.
The Toll of 2016
This year has been tough across the board. Friendships have frayed, and our nation seems more divided than ever. In times like these, we lean on shared cultural experiences, whether they come from movies or television shows, to find a semblance of unity. We needed Alan Thicke to continue offering wisdom in Growing Pains as his character navigated the challenges of parenting and career. We needed Garry Marshall to keep producing movies like Pretty Woman that gave us an escape from unsettling realities. And seriously, 2016, was it too much to ask for Abe Vigoda to still be around?
We know Hollywood isn’t real life, and that the stars we admire are human, dealing with their own struggles. But for goodness’ sake, 2016, enough is enough. We can’t take losing another Doris Roberts or a national treasure like John Glenn. We’re concerned for the well-being of beloved figures like Betty White and even Buzz Aldrin—are they safe?
The toll of your tumultuous year has been heavy, and we’re not sure how much more we can endure. If 2017 is listening, consider this your warning. We’re not as strong as Muhammad Ali, nor do we possess the grace to face challenges like Nancy Reagan. We desperately need a break from this unrelenting cycle of loss.
We’ll even let Kanye stay. He’s had a rough year, too. But if anything happens to Queen Elizabeth, we will come after you with pitchforks. Mark our words, 2016.
Sincerely,
An Exasperated Nation
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In summary, 2016 has been a year of loss and turmoil, impacting our cherished relationships and cultural touchstones. As we look forward, we hope for a reprieve from the heartbreak and uncertainty, and for the chance to celebrate the icons who have shaped our lives.