One not Omne

I worked for Comfort Omne Shoes. In the suimmer of 2006 I was at one of the Dupont Circle stores (the one selling Dansko and Merrell.) I was in the back running stock when I heard the assistant manager say 'nanoo, Nanoo." I went out front and there was Robin Williams buying inserts for his shoes. He was in town filming the movie "Man Of The Year." We chatted a bit. Mostly I remmebered how short he was and how hard he was trying to hide his head behind this huge sandwhich

I have long had a personal policy of not approaching any celebrity I might happen upon. I don't ask for autographs or blather on about how much I liked xy movie or book. Not that I see celebrities daily, but between living in DC and NY you see a few famous people every now and then. A few months ago, I read a post by someone who had met Robert Downey, Jr. and been present when he really helped the writer's grandma. Years later she saw him in public and approached him to tell him how she remembered his past kindness to her grandma even though she thought maybe he might want to be left alone. He told her something like, "You have no idea how much I needed to hear that today. Thank you." I thought about that story when I heard that Robin Williams was gone. I thought how I would never have approached him to say that my dad is a doctor who makes everyone laugh and how other doctors suddenly started copying (poorly) his ability to connect with his patients through humor after the movie "Patch Adams" came out. I would never have approached him to tell him how much I love the movie Dead Poets Society. How I still think about some of the darker scenes in Good Will Hunting. How my mom and I laugh until we cry watching Mrs. Doubtfire. What if someone told him what he needed to hear to make through one more day? I have been thinking about that a lot and have decided that I will be telling people what they mean to me whenever I can whether they want to hear it or not.

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in San Francisco and I love how my FB newsfeed has stories of people having personal interactions with him. His daughter played basketball in jr high against a team my co-workers dd was on. He was at the game like any other parent, and stayed afterwards for pictures with whoever wanted them. So gracious.

I used to live in San Francisco as well. Ran into him at City Cycle - just down the street from the Mrs. Doubtfire house. I always wondered if when he drove past it did he say to himself - there is the Mrs. Doubfire house.

I lived not too far from his house in Sea Cliff. His garden was awesome! When I needed a fresh perspective after 9/11, and just needed to smile, I walked past his place b/c you could not help smiling just thinking about all the different things he did that were really funny.

There was a light at the intersection 1 house down from mine. I remember walking out of my house and him being stopped at the light - making eye contact and he would wave. Not a big deal - but how could you not smile.

Anonymous wrote:Mrs. Doubtfire was one of my grandfather's favorite movies. I remember him laughing aloud while watching it two months before he passed away. He had pancreatic cancer and must have been in so much pain, but Robin Williams made him laugh.

My father also died of pancreatic cancer. When he was sick we got every laugh out loud movie to help. Robin Williams was in the rotation.

Just saw this tribute and thought it was really touching . . .

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6csfDT5ovps

I was driving along alone today--it has been descending into my mind that he is really gone--I imagined the despair that drove him to end his life so painfully, and I just sobbed and sobbed. I wasn't aware of how deeply his death (and manner of death) was effecting me. I had felt a low grade sadness since I heard about it but, I was stunned how it came on so suddenly. The World According to Garp had a powerful effect on me--ive watched it every 3 years or so since it came out in the 80's. It's one of my top 5 movies of all time. It is an amazing movie. Williams is so wonderful in it. It's funny but I think I was drawn to marry my DH in some ways because he is so much like Williams in that role--similar background and humour and sensitivity. Williams was the guy you stay with for life after you've sown your oats. He was the sensitive smart one who would always love you for who you are. At least that's what he was as Garp, for me