It’s been a week of celebrity deaths – Ed McMahon, Farrrah, Michael, and this morning another death – the OxiClean infomercial guy, Billy Mays. Like Michael Jackson, he was only 50.
Ed was pretty old and pretty sick, so that one was no surprise. Farrah wasn’t that old (62), but has had a very public battle with cancer for a few years, so we all saw that one coming, too.
But Michael and Billy – two guys suddenly dropping dead at only 50.
The expression “only 50” is the big thing here. Having gone to a party last night for a friend turning the big five-oh, and with my own big five-oh coming up in a few weeks, it’s starting to look to me like the big five-oh is a dangerous year. (Note: my own “big five-oh” will probably be more like a “small, quiet, understated five-oh. Actually, a “Hawaii Five-Oh” would be cool, but that’s not gonna happen this year).
So just a quick warning people – if you are somewhere between the ages of 49 and 51, I’d recommend… umm… well, I’m not really sure what’s going to help you. Hopefully we’ll just hang in there and make it through to the 51 side.
charley's blog 
Well, I already made it to the big “five – one.” This coming August my Dad will be celebrating the “big eight-oh” and I have a couple of uncles who are coming up on the big “nine-oh,” so who knows, Lord willing, I’ll be around for another 40 years!
MY 5-0 is tomorrow. Should I be scared?
I’m sure you’ll be fine JM, unless you go to Disneyland or something dangerous like that. I wouldn’t worry about it…
Fred Travelina also died. But he was in his 60s.
Good thing you did not become a famous country musician, or else I would be taking out life insurance on you. Not so good for the celebrities this week.