David Bowie became a part of my life, one summer, in San Francisco. I was doing a summer program at San Francisco State with other young actors. I was enthralled and terrified. Margaret Cho was in my class. These kids were hardcore. I thought I was awful. And I was pretty awful, we were devising and self generating and I felt very much at sea.

There was another kid who was in the same boat as me. She went to school with Margaret in SF and I could tell, we were both, aliens in this strange new land. She was tall, had her close cropped hair dyed bright orange and wore scads of glitter makeup. She was shy and funny and cool and she invited me to visit her house in the Mission district, which back then was where the poor people lived. It was run down and a magnificent place to get into trouble. She lived with her dad, they both smoked tiparillos, so the house smelled strongly of tobacco and incense. And cat. 

Up in her room we chatted, did our hair, putting on so much Aqua-Net that we burned our very own hole in the ozone layer. She put the needle on “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” 

I couldn’t move. I almost didn’t breathe. What was this sound? This otherworldly sound, this sound that glittered before my eyes like a mirage! I saw that sound. I remember it as clear as anything. It was gold and silver and ohmygod…

Bowie. 

Bowie came into my life, he invaded my soul. A life giving parasite alien presence of fun, and naughtiness and brilliance. He didn’t care. Or he did. Or he cared so much. Oh he was so much. So original, so beautiful.

And brilliant. The Pied Piper of the freaks and weirdos. Our patron saint.

Saint Bowie, the man who fell to earth.

Bowie has always had a place in my life. A perfect song for any moment. An exhortation to be brave and fearless and do things with style and wit and grace.

I don’t believe in heaven or hell. But I believe in Bowie. As his massive energy takes its leave from us and back into the star stuff, I sit with tears in my eyes and say thank you for letting me be a part of your life. You taught me so much.To lead a theatrical life. To lead. To innovate. To never stop dancing. 

There's a Starman waiting in the sky

He'd like to come and meet us

But he thinks he'd blow our minds

There's a Starman waiting in the sky

He's told us not to blow it

Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

He told me:

Let the children lose it

Let the children use it

Let all the children boogie.