Johnny Carson, the legendary host of the Tonight Show, has passed away at the age of 79. Precious were the nights in my childhood when I was allowed to stay up to watch, if only for his opening monologues.
As is the way with people of such stature, practically everyone can find something of the man to hold onto and treasure. With Mr. Carson, it may be his character Carnac or his receiving the Medal of Freedom, our highest civilian honor. It could be his life-long love of the sport of tennis or the dry, often self-depracating humor he used to entertain millions for decades. For most of his fans, it will probably just be the years and years of smiles and accumulated memories with which we were blessed by the man.
“And so it has come to this. I am one of the lucky people in the world. I found something that I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it,” Carson said to close his final show. “I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight.”