Sad Glee News

I’m a huge fan of Glee! I wrote a blog about it every week when it was on TV from 2009 until 2015. Well, almost every week. Did you know the term ‘Blog’ was first invented in 1997? I sent out my almost weekly Glee Blog by an old school email to my family and friends. I hope they looked forward to reading my weekly observations about a fictional high school Glee Club and often responded with funny feedback. I would even take notes during “Glee” about the characters, plot, actions, and fashions that sparked my interest. I had tears in my eyes during the final episode and Glee Blog. I joined the group that suffered from  “Glee Withdrawal.” 

During this time, I was teaching in Florence, Italy when my teacher friend told me about the TV show, “Glee.” We discussed the weekly episodes over school lunch and then again over pasta and wine at the local pizzeria. Rachel was the diva with her beautiful voice and dance moves. The show costumes and musical numbers were over the top. Teen issues were intermixed with sarcastic humor. The actors seemed to enjoy each episode as much as I did. 

Unfortunately, three Glee stars have passed away. I just heard the breaking news that 33-year-old Naya Rivera (Santana) was found in a California lake leaving her son safely on the boat. They found Naya on the same date that seven years ago Cory Monteith (Finn) died of an accidental overdose. How tragic is that? The third Glee character was Mark Salling (Puck) who played the bad boy. He tragically ended his life by suicide. How could this happen with such a talented cast in an upbeat show? I’m staring now at the photo posted online of the Glee cast members who reunited to search for Naya at the lake. The photo shows them holding hands as they often did on Glee, but this time wearing masks during the pandemic. We are sharing the Glee bond on social media. I feel sorry that Naya’s four year old will grow up without his mother. Boating and swimming are supposed to be safe summer getaways during the quarantine. The boat ride and swim on a tranquil lake turned into a summer nightmare. 

We also need to find our quiet times to enjoy nature during the pandemic. Last night we took a sunset swim in our neighborhood pool. It was relaxing to watch the birds, the sky, and sun go down. We awaken each morning to make it a Glee day. Let’s treat it like the show with laughter, songs, and dance. My husband may not agree. We can celebrate that we are healthy and optimistic about the future. We will take the time to enjoy nature and our friends. We have so much to look forward to just like the cast of Glee. They were on the brink of graduation in their last season. We are on the edge of creating a new normal in our lives. Let’s greet it with an energy like the eternal cast of Glee. RIP Naya, Cory, and Mark. You have filled our hearts with songs and joy forever.