Charles Strauss, born in 1928. He Added to our Lives

    Oh, the people born before the Great Depression! Now passing away from us, like the others of his age. We know few people now in their 90s, but we are grateful that they make it this long. Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett. The great comedy actors and laughers such as they. Still hanging on!

    I did not know Charles Strauss much by name, but I knew his work. Growing up, "Annie" made an impression on me. It came out in 1977. Broadway, I am sure. Carol Burnett did a movie version of it. The only problem was, that version profaned too much. But the stage version was clean enough, along with all the music, and I loved it. I saw the production in Bloomington by fifth grade, and I was memorizing many lines. Many, for me. I have not been that good at memorizing things verbatim, so when I do, it stands out. Even now into my 50s I struggle, perhaps more so, to memorize. 

    This has hurt me, maybe over the last few years more and more. 

    But, Annie and the songs were formidable to me. This man made an impact on me and millions of others. "Bye, Bye, Birdie" was a good show at the high school a few years ago. We enjoyed it.

    Thanks, Charles! You appeared to a be a total winner! Nothing bad to know or say about you!

    We appreciate all that you shared with the rest of us.

    The sun has come up, and it is tomorrow. Days that are grey are less lonely because of your talents and contributions.

    God bless you and all yours, and all of us through you and your works.

    Rest in musical and restful peace.