Maurice Sendak – Thank You!

On Tuesday, Maurice Sendak died from a stroke at the age of 83. I wrote a blog about him earlier after reading an article that reported he was unhappy and found life meaningless. Understandably, he was depressed, having lost his partner of many years, but that had been a while earlier and still he was unable to recover. Life for him had become flat and dull. Well, he’s gone now to his separate peace but I’m sorry to see his life end on a despairing note.  

                         

                        (courtesy: HarperCollins)

Despite my age, it’s still hard to say what makes life a happy one. Sendak had money, fame, fortune and the adoration of millions of children. He had the respect of his peers and for most of his life, he had love. And yet, the end seemed to have erased it all. What strange creatures we are.

Still, I thank him for the pleasure he has brought to so many and for his willingness to share his skill and knowledge with others. I envied Maurice Sendak, but in a good way. He was a beacon of sorts. I regret his state of mind when he died – the bitterness he felt as he looked back on his life. As I said to my friend, “If I knew I’d brought such joy into the world, it would take a thousand morticians to wipe the smile off my face.”