Wishful Drinking...If you can't join 'em, read about them..

For those of you who have read my previous blog posts or if this is perhaps your first viewing, you'll notice that I've read my fair share of memoirs. Autobiographies of sports stars, rock stars, actors and actresses.  My bookshelves are warping over the weight of many others that I've yet to read.  Well as the saying goes, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" in my case, it's "if you can't join 'em, then read about them"

Now, that's not to say I'd relish in the overindulgent existence of being a celebrity. I always say, I'd love the money, but not the fame. I'll also say there's something undeniably attractive of learning about other people. Whether it be people watching at the nearest park, airport, or trillion square foot decadent shopping experience we call, "The Mall", understanding what makes people tick, their experiences and idiosyncrasy's is not only fascinating and entertaining, but intriguing at times too.

Take the case of the daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher.

Princess Leia meets "Reverand Jim" Ignatowski( from the TV show, Taxi) meets Randle Patrick McMurphy all rolled up into one. ( sorry Carrie, I couldn't find any female fictional characters to toss in the analogy, perhaps Sybil but she had a multiple personality disorder and is based on a real person) 

Now, if you're not familiar with Randle Patrick McMurphy he is the questionably insane character in Ken Kesey's, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Academically Awarded performance by Jack Nicholson in the movie of the same name.  But more on electro shock therapy in a minute.

Wishful Drinking, Ms. Fisher's revealing, open, one-lining, f-bombing, poignant and at times a bit sad, memoir about her addictions, childhood, love and marriages, Paul Simon - the singer/song writer, not the bow tie wearing late Senator, the presence of her father or lack thereof; homosexuality - not hers but a male friend who died next to her in bed; and her second ex husband(Simon was the first) who fathered  her child, and who too opened the closet. Very quick read but long in humor, sarcasm and sincerity.

Ms Fisher laughs at herself, self deprecating humor is the funniest. We should laugh about ourselves more, tell jokes at our own expense instead of others. We might find we'll all very funny, dysfunctional people. To what degree well that's for each of us to decide unless we plan on writing a memoir for all the world to then observe and pass judgement.

Stories and tales of Star Wars, pot smoking, manic depression, love affairs, indiscretions, her family tree, which includes Elizabeth Taylor and bipolarism.  Ms Fisher isn't afraid to shock you, which back to R. Patrick McMurphy and electro shock treatment or more specifically, electroconvulsive therapy( ECT). She's been there done that, tales we'll learn more about in her latest book which I'll read next called Shockaholic, where the force will be with you, albeit an electroconvulsive one.