Bob Denver RIP

I just heard the news that Bob Denver, best known for his role on "Gilligan's Island" has passed away. Denver was never known as a great actor but his portrayal of Gilligan made him something of a 60s icon. And he and the show played a peculiarly important role in my life as a little boy growing up in San Diego.

Some of my most contented and vivid memories of that time relate to Gilligan's Island. Like clockwork, every afternoon at around 3pm I would go to my parents' bedroom and lay on their bed and watch GI. Even now, I can remember very clearly watching the show with the curtains above the television fluttering with the incoming ocean breeze. And like clockwork, by about 3:15 my mom would come in with a plate of fishsticks for me to munch on. Never celery with peanut butter, or crackers or cookies or grapes or apples. Fishsticks. I don't know why fishsticks Maybe it was the seafood-seafaring connection. I also don't know why it was the same deal everyday, but it was a real routine there for awhile.

In any case, Bob Denver played an important role in my life and I'm saddened at the news of his death.