Bond. James Bond.
Not the first to utter those words, not the last, but Roger Moore WAS James Bond when I was a child.
As I was driving, I heard on the radio that today, May 23rd, 2017, he finally succumbed to the bastard that is cancer. That is a tremendous blow to an iconic franchise. It is also a tremendous loss from my childhood.
I grew up watching the movies, reading and rereading the Fleming novels, reading and rereading the Gardner novels, buying the companion book... Always trying to find a way to incorporate his mannerisms in my daily life. James Bond was quintessential Hollywood to me.
Being born in the early 70's, I came along a little too late to consider Sean Connery the "real" Bond and that bias stays with me today. Roger Moore was and always will be THE James Bond for me.
In addition to Bond, there were other films but nothing came close to his 007. The man was also a literal Saint.
I struggle for words to describe how I feel right now, this loss seems so much different than any of the other celebrities we have lost recently. How does one express such a great loss of their childhood?
I imagine I will be rewatching some movies in the foreseeable future.
Rest in peace, Mr. Bond. Rest in peace, Roger Moore. To me you are one in the same. It seems that the evil Spectre of death has finally caught up to your seemingly immortal life.
