R.I.P. Stephen Cozzi

Jill Cozzi of the Brilliant at Breakfast site has always been one of my favorite bloggers on the Internet as well as one of my favorite critics on the old Cinemarati site so I was more than a bit saddened to learn a few years ago that her husband Stephen had passed away and that she was now a widow.

I was a bit embarrassed to comment on it when I first heard about it since so much time had passed since the last time I visited her site. But as time went on, it seemed far better for me to try to say something than to say nothing at all.

Besides, Jill has always treated me in a civil manner even when I didn't deserve it and I still remember the kind words she wrote to me on the Cinemarati site after my father died. I can't pretend I know what it is like to lose a spouse but I do like to think I know something about grief.

In any event, I wish the best for Jill Cozzi.

And, of course, I'd like to think that her late husband has been -- and will be -- missed.

P.S. Upon re-reading the last post on her site, I suddenly remembered that Ms. Cozzi also lost her parents a few year back. I'm sorry for this loss as well -- and for not remembering it earlier.

Then again, when it comes to grief, it's better to risk saying the wrong thing than to say nothing at all.

Out, Out, Brief Candle Mix (In Honor of Cinemarati)

1. “And When I Die” -- Blood, Sweat and Tears. The definite going-to-die song. Even if it has to lighten things up with that circle of life angle.

2. “Apocalypso” -- The Motels. On the other hand, what's the point of passing away if you can't get in a dance or two?

3. “Cabaret” -- Cabaret Soundtrack. Perhaps the ultimate song of pre-mortem defiance. And fatalism. After all, the time from cradle to tomb isn't that long a stay.

4. “Funeral for a Friend” -- Elton John. Rock'n'roll funeral music.

5. “I May Never Get to Heaven” -- Wanda Jackson. A country song that never ceases to move me. A tune for all of us mortal types who know darn well that we'll never qualify for sainthood but cannot help considering ourselves fortunate that we found some brief happiness upon this earth.

6. “If Tomorrow Never Comes” -- Garth Brooks. Another country tune that reminds us to let the objects of our affection know quite often that they are indeed the objects of our affection just in case there comes a day when we can no longer tell them anything at all.

7. “No One Lives Forever” -- Oingo Boingo. A celebration of mortality that spits in the eye of the Grim Reaper, then dares him to dance. I just love the staircase effect created by the group's keyboards.

8. “Road to Nowhere” -- Talking Heads. Another salute to rock'n'roll nihilism. Just because life seems so obviously hopeless at times doesn't necessarily mean that it is that hopeless. At least as long as we can sing.

9. “Tomorrow, Wendy” -- Concrete Blonde. One of the first -- and most powerful -- songs to deal with AIDS and yet a song that never really mentions AIDS by name. One of the best musical defiances of death I've ever heard though not necessarily a tune for the “Don't Worry, Be Happy” crowd.

10. “The Whole of the Moon” -- The Waterboys. The writer of this tune never says specifically what happened to the character to whom he is addressing the song but I can guess. The message I get from this song: Better a brief but creative life than a long and not so creative life. However I think it goes without saying that a long and creative life would probably be best.

Mother of Mercy! Is This the End of Cinemarati?

Apparently, it is.

Cinemarati, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, was a website devoted to film commentary. It was one of the first such sites on the Net and for a long time, it was very easily one of the best. I used to post on that site quite frequently when it was a mere messageboard, and when the administrators decided to change formats and turn the site into a weblog, I still kept on posting there, choosing to exchange my old user name of Thomas More for the more literary name of Tonio Kruger.

Quite recently the site has had a number of technical difficulties, and because the difficulties were beyond the power of the current administration to fix, a decision was made to close the site down.

In some ways, I'll miss it. After all, I learned a lot from Cinemarati, and I doubt I would have been inspired to start this weblog if it was not for the inspiration I received from my fellow Cinemarati posters. I still remember the many words of kindness I received from the good folks at Cinemarati after my father died, and for that alone, I'll retain many fond memories of Cinemarati.

However, all good things do come to an end, and Cinemarati was a good thing. I still plan to keep up with individual members. I have visited MaryAnn (the Flick Filosopher) Johanson's site upon occasion, and of course, I have also visited the Self-Styled Siren, Lynn Lee, and the House Next Door. I don't plan to wear out my welcome at either of these sites, but I don't plan to neglect them either.

In the meantime, I'll concentrate on this site. I don't consider it yet to be in the same class as Cinemarati was at its peak and indeed, it may never be in that class.

But, hey, I can dream, can't I?