I Came, Icon, I Gone

By now it has become a standard story in our culture and it follows a prescribed narrative arc that is every bit as certain in it's construction as a haiku poem or a wood frame house. A young individual, attractive and often talented, is launched from "Nowheresville" to a meteoric rise to super stardom. This is followed by public infatuation which eventually transitions to disinterest and often befuddlement when our idols' odd behavior becomes fodder for comedians and tabloids. This is then followed by the idols early and untimely passing. Still, no matter how many times we witness the same story played out along the same plot lines we are always stunned and moved, as we no doubt were yesterday, by it's conclusion.