Cancer can’t stop friend’s love of life

The sign, black magic marker lettering on pink construction paper, tells you everything you need to know about how he has handled his life.

And for Norman, as he sits up in his bed, sucking on a piece of ice, the sign tells you more about how he is handling his death.

Norman has cancer, which started in his stomach and has spread to inoperable levels in other parts of his body. He is dying.

What’s next?

Each summer, I try to pick a new TV show or two to watch on DVD. This can be a series that’s already completed its run or a current series that I can catch up on and then watch new episodes in the fall.

With Lost officially over (and the Season 6 DVDs not due until later this year), I’m anxious to find something new to settle in with over the next few weeks (and, if good, perhaps over the next few seasons/years).

The Lost world: Finale brings redemption, hope

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
— Paul McCartney

It’s over.

Just like that (well, maybe not quite so fast, given the extra time padded into the finale), the Lost journey is over. Far greater minds than mine will one day (including today, no doubt) provide a greater insight into the meaning behind it all, but for me, for now, I want to offer a few thoughts as I continue to process the finale, appropriately titled “The End.”

The Lost world: Viewers of science, viewers of faith

“I’ve looked into the eye of this island, and what I saw was beautiful.”
— John Locke

It’s never been just about an island.

It’s about freewill vs. predestination, good vs. evil, black vs. white, love vs. war. It’s about polar bears and smoke monsters and time travel and alternate realities and nuclear bombs and constants and numbers.

The Lost world: Characters at the heart of the show

Numbers have always played an important role on Lost, none quite as obvious as 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42.

To Lost fans, those numbers hold a special meaning, as they became involved in everything from Hurley’s winning lottery ticket to the numbers entered in the hatch to numerical representations of characters themselves.

Another number, however, has a bit more meaning: two.

The Lost world: “The Walkabout” sets a tone

Note: Over the next three days, I’m going to be releasing a series of blogs looking back on Lost. I’ve been watching TV shows for a solid 30 of my almost-35 years, and I can’t recall a show that has generated this level of discussion and debate. For the uninitiated, I say this: spoilers are ahead so continue reading at your own risk. Go immediately and start watching Season 1, then come back here in a few months.

For the rest of you, I hope you use this as a launching board to share your favorite Lost memories. Today, we’ll be tackling favorite episodes, with the favorite characters coming Thursday. Heading into the weekend, I have a look at how we watch Lost.

Thanks for sharing your memories in the comments section. After Sunday night, memories are all we have. Now, let’s go get Lost …

The Lost world

I am a huge fan of Lost.

I am a huge fan of TV show finales.

Even in another language, Lost rocks

Oh, I’m so ready for Lost to return.

Heroes, Season Two: It was a dark and stormy night

Heroes, Season Two
Chapter One
“Four Months Later …”

8:53 p.m.
I’m a bit afraid of the season premiere. The commercial that just aired is a wee bit too full of itself for my taste. Many shows get far too self-important in their second season (Lost comes to mind, as does Too Close for Comfort). I hope Heroes ignores they hype and realizes it’s not going to change the world. It’s a show about superheroes and comic books, for heaven’s sake.

I am, however, digging Chuck.

9 p.m.
OK, the VERY FIRST SCENE has aggravated me — a deep, serious voice sharing some pop culture philosophy. Maybe I’m expecting too much. I am now lowering my expectations.