February 11, 2014, The sad, sad passage of time
Shirley Temple Black has passed away at 85.
The original child star-- one without "the problems" that plague the "child stars" of today (some of whom remain children into their 40's and beyond), who served brilliantly as a diplomat and public servant... in her day, the most popular movie star on Earth... and yet... a functioning human being. I took it as an article of faith that someone who was a huge movie star in an era before my parents were even born was not only still around, but would live forever.
No such luck. Another of the great ones, I now find myself having to mourn. This is really turning into a bad few months for this sort of thing.
R.I.P., Sweet Little Princess.