Oh, That George Carlin

So, every where on the internet today, people are posting about the passing of George Carlin. I guess it is hard to believe he was 71, but I do have to say, he looked old when he played the conductor on "Shining Time Station," which my kids loved to watch because of Thomas the Tank Engine.

That was not my first introduction to Carlin, however.

Growing up in the rural area that I did, we didn't have cable television. The closest I came to music videos was watching "Friday Night Videos." We didn't have HBO or Nickelodeon. If the rabbit ears were bent just so, we could get six stations, two of them being PBS. Renting movies was a relatively new concept, and like most parents, mine wouldn't willingly rent rated R movies for their children to watch. It was a rather sheltered life.

But my step-grandma, she had cable. One afternoon in the early 80s, my step-mom dropped three of us off at her house. The younger two kids had baton practice or something. I don't know why we were all dragged along, but it was likely because we weren't allowed to stay home alone if it could be avoided. I'm guessing I was a freshman in high school at the time, and that would have made my other siblings 14 and 11ish at the time.

We walked into the step-grandma's house, and naturally, we turned on the TV. My favorite was "You Can't Do That on Television" on Nick, but since it wasn't on, my step-sister started flipping through the stations (by turning the knob on the cable box...no remote control technology just yet).

She happened upon HBO. We were hoping for another playing of "Clash of the Titans," which I think we'd watched a good dozen times. What a great movie that was for someone who'd spent a lifetime of watching network television. Instead, we found Carlin doing his HBO special "Carlin on Campus."

We tuned in about the time he started talking about driving. I don't know if he threw out a F-word, or two, or three, while my step-mom was still standing there, but she forbade us from watching it. "Turn that channel right now!" she screeched.

We continued to giggle.

"You are not watching this. Change it now. You better not put it back when I leave," she said.

So, my step-sister changed the channel, and as soon her mom pulled away, she put it back.

Now, I was always the good girl. I listened, and I never wanted to risk getting into more trouble. My step-sister, however, pushed her limits anytime her mother set any. But it was a bit rather like having some forbidden fruit dangled in front of our faces and being told not to touch, taste, inspect, etc.

The front door opened about the time that Carlin got up to his theories on having a screen on the back of your car. That way, you could type your feelings on the way others drive, and it would be displayed on the back of your car. "You drive like old people $^%&! Slow and sloppy," Carlin said just as we were busted.

The step-mom had forgotten something. My brother and I totally denied having anything to do with the channel somehow managing to get back to HBO. Oh yes, we didn't hesitate to let our step-mom know that her precious little cherub wanted to watch Carlin. "If I find out you turned it back, you are all three grounded!"

But I do have to admit I wanted to watch it, too. I'd never seen a comedian let the curse words rip. I'd never watched anyone who could take those minute observations on the human condition and make them so damn funny.

We knew our step-mom wasn't coming back. Otherwise, the two other kids would be late for practice. It didn't stop us from taking turns keeping watch at the door, but that was okay, because we could still see the TV from our post by the door.

We watched, and we laughed. We laughed until tears rolled down our faces. We laughed about things we probably didn't totally understand, but nonetheless, we knew he was funny.

I was a fan of Carlin since that day we happened upon his HBO special. I admired the man who's comedy pushed the limits. RIP, George, and thanks for the laughs.