TO SHARE A MOMENT IS TO SHARE A LIFETIME!

Jenna Giannini

During my college years at FSU, my summer of 2000 was spent in San Francisco where I worked as a hostess at Rose Pistola. At lunch service one day, Robin Williams came in to dine with the restaurant owner. They entered through a back door and sat in a private area. His server came to ask me if I wanted to take Robin his lemonade (with no ice). Of course I did!! I was so nervous and didn't say a word as I delivered his beverage, as I wouldn't dare interrupt conversation. But before I could turn away from the table, Robin stopped mid-conversation, looked up at me, and said, "And how are you today?!" as if he could tell this little youngin' was probably just serving him his lemonade to get a closer peek. I smiled and a few kind words were nervously exchanged.

What was entirely crazy about the whole situation was just before I left for San Francisco, my Mom Diann gave me a tiny pair of butterfly earrings because I loved the movie "Patch Adams" so much. (You have to REALLY know the movie to know the butterfly connection and not just the clown theme.) Well, low and behold, that day was the first time I'd worn my "Patch Adams" earrings, and now, here I was serving lemonade to Robin Williams! Crazy.

I made a strategic plan to ask him for a picture as he got up to leave (that I later sorta got a slap on the wrist for, oh well). As he was leaving, I whispered, "Mr. Williams, would you mind taking a picture with me?" "Of course! Right here!" as he positioned himself just right. The server took our picture with the disposable camera I just HAPPENED to have in my purse that day (remember...this was 2000). And DANG IT! I forgot all about that stupid flash button! That button that you had to hold for 20 seconds to activate the flash, remember those? I realized it instantly but didn't say a thing, as I didn't want to keep him any longer. But right away, Robin said, "Oh wait, take another, it didn't flash!" While we patiently waited for the flash thingy, I told him I was wearing my Patch Adams earrings. "Oh, what are they? Clowns?" "No, butterflies!" as I moved my hair away to show him. "Butterflies?! Well, give me a hug then!" he said. Fourteen years later...pictures worth a thousand words. Both of them.

Robin is just one of the hundreds, if not thousands, of people who took his/her life yesterday. Major mental illness is an excruciating, evil, disgusting battle. Don't ignore the warning signs.
Rest in peace, Patch!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To share someone else's Life WITH them is the greatest gift we ever have been given ... the day is closing upon us when the WORK we THINK we need to do will become second to the FEELING of simply sharing that the Heart longs for ... the mind can forget and be cold lost in the Love it's rarely felt ... but Life always gives us reminders ... ALWAYS

Thanks Jenna!!!!!