SIDE SALAD - Everything crunchy is good.

CELEBRITY DEATH HAIKU

At a former place of employment, I used to keep photos of celebrities who died that year on the outside wall of my cubicle. I called it my Gallery of Mortality. One week in 1998, Linda McCartney, Pol Pot and Wendy O. Williams died within about 10 days of each other. Frank Sinatra, John Derek and Phil Hartman died within two weeks of each other, too. It was morbid as hell, but I was fascinated by the confluence of such odd rivers of fame.

I guess that's why I was so enthused about being part of the Reaper's Delight celebrity dead pool at work. Death of famous people sort of reduces them to our level. You may be rich. You may be a celebrity. But the same thing that happens to us happens to you, pal. And just your luck, you'll die the same week as Carrot Top.

So when Rick James and Fay Wray die in the same week, it inspires some kooky thoughts, not to mention a little bit of celebrity death haiku:

Rick James and Fay Wray.
Two celebs who died this week;
Super-freakay, yow!

Fay Wray, screaming queen.
Had a monkey on her back
In a major way.

Empire State Building
Should honor King Kong's mistress
By throwing her off.