Ron is a brilliant American comedian and storyteller. He has lived such an amazing life that to try to chronicle it here would be insulting. Go to Ron’s youtube page and listen to his stories. He is currently 66 years old and battling a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. In the last 5 years or so, Ron and i have become very good friends and it really breaks my heart to see him sick like this. You can donate to Ron by buying his comedy albums or funny t-shirts from his website or you can just donate if you aren’t interested in those things. I’ll have links at the bottom of the post. (Comedians don’t have a union or any benefits to the job and the pay is pretty bad.)
1/15/2012
Ron, you are such an amazing man and such an inspiration to so many people. You have lived such a rich life that most of us have no choice but to be enthralled by everything you have to say. You accomplish more in one year than most people do in their entire lives. You have so much to be proud of and happy for and, like all the wise men with whom you share company, you have never taken any of it for granted. You squeeze life like an alcoholic squeezing a bar rag. You get the most out of every moment, every relationship, every opportunity and you give back to the world whenever you can; through your stories and just who you are as a person.
I don’t want to sound like I’m throwing in the towel or anything. I just want you to know that you make the world a better place. There are many things we wish we could say to people and many of us leave those things unsaid for their whole lives. I just don’t want another day to go by without letting you know these things. I want you to know that I (among thousands of others) love you Ron. We love you and support you through this fight and we want nothing more than to see you be a part of our lives for many years to come. The world needs more people like Ron Shock and, thanks to your art, perhaps pieces of you are permeating through young minds hearing about Ron Shock for the first time on YouTube. You see Ron, you can’t die because you’re a legend. And legends live forever.
I’m grateful for every moment I have spent with you and the many more I plan to spend with you, Ron. And I will say this, I don’t know if there a rapture as the Christians know it, but it seems to me that if there is one that God is using cancer as the catalyst. It never seems to go after any assholes. Only the best and the brightest; the good and the righteous. Keep fighting Ron. You’ve lived such an amazing life that I believe that, if anyone can beat this, it will be you. God will have you for eternity, tell him to wait 30 more years.
Rock n roll.
Ron’s website where you can purchase comedy albums, funny t-shirts and donate to Ron:
www.RonShock.com
Visit Ron’s YouTube page where he chronicles his years with Bill Hicks and his current battle with cancer:
www.youtube.com/VegasPoet
Sign the petition to get Ron on This American Life on NPR:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/we-are-asking-this-american-life-to-do-a-program-about-the-legendary-comedian-ron-shock/?cid=FB_TAF
