Today's Self-Aggrandizing Fun Fact: Cathy Seipp used to call me "The Funniest Man in the Blogosphere(TM)." I say this not to brag, but to clear up the common misconception that she was always right.
Obits today at the Washington Post, New York Times (will link when it's live) (or maybe not; their loss) (finally!), New York Sun, Associated Press, Village Voice, USA Today, and probably other places by the time you read this. And a mention on some Faux Noise Channel show called Red Eye, hosted by this dummy named Greg Gutberg. (Did you know he calls his mother every night? Exhibit A!)
Even if I can't go to Cathy's funeral today because it would involve exposure to sunlight and three-dimensional women, I'll be there in spirit(s). Although I'm half-convinced that this is all just an elaborate hoax to "game" Technorati into launching her to #1, and she'll have a hilarious column about it next week. "Greatly exaggerated," she'll gloat. And we won't stay mad at her for long, what with the universe making sense again and all.
P.S. Luke Ford: "What would be the right book to take to Cathy Seipp's funeral?" In his case, I recommend the DSM-IV.
P.P.S. When I look back at the nice stuff she said about me (as is blogger custom), I don't think I realized at the time what it meant. "Hey, that's a really cool thing to say. What a nice person. Okay, next dick joke." Thinking about it again now, knowing what I know about her life and career, reading all the amazing tributes over the last few days by all the other people whose lives she touched, it's staggering that somebody like that thought so highly of me. Completely humbling. I realize I sound like an asshole and I'm not really getting it out right, but I'm honestly trying to say something about her and not me. How about this: It's kind of like Clark Kent telling you he's a big fan, and then years later you find out his secret identity.
It's unbelievable that the whole time I knew this woman, she was living on borrowed time. (Not that a single one of us isn't, but she'd been given a specific return-by date. Which of course she ignored 10 times over.) I wish I'd appreciated her more. I wish she wasn't dead.
P.P.P.S. More thoughts on Cathy, this time from people you've actually heard of.
Posted by Jim Treacher at March 23, 2007 12:35 AM