It happened innocently enough when I was about 15 years old. “Is that Perry Mason guy still alive?” I asked my mom and dad while watching a commercial for Perry Mason Returns.  “I think so…” My mom and dad replied. Three days later?

Raymond Burr, Actor, 76, Dies; Played Perry Mason and Ironside

I killed him!  I asked if he was still alive and then he DIED right after that!  I made a mental note never to ask that question ever again.  And I never did… until 1996 when I forgot… I took down two that year.  George Burns and Gene Kelly, may they rest in peace.

Yesterday, I was at a book launch for my friend Nicole who is AN ACTUAL PUBLISHED AUTHOR (more on this awesomeness soon!!!!) and while wandering around the store, I saw a cookbook from The Frugal Gourmet. Forgetting myself and my apparent power of suggestion, I asked my friend Susan if Jeff Smith is still alive. “I think he is…” she said.  Realizing what I had done, “Well I may have just killed him off!”  Imagine my relief when I came home to find out that he had already died 2004 of natural causes.  YES!  He had heart disease and I didn’t kill him.  Happy dance!

May he continue to rest in peace.