My Conversation With a Historical Person
If I could converse with any person from the past, present, or fantasy land, in a heartbeat, I would choose Robin Williams. When I was ten years old, “Mrs.Doubtfire” was on television at least twice a day, and I played the “Genie” in a musical theater play at age twelve. Not only was he a comedic genius, but also a profound thinker and compassionate artist. His ability to blend laughable humor with deep, emotional insight makes him intriguing to me.
If I could ask him questions aside from work and success, I would ask, “Why did you leave this world the way you did?” I would ask this simply because I still haven’t wrapped my head around how he passed. Then again, his death represents the stigma around mental health battles. I can relate to him on that level.
“How would you do things differently if you could?” Next, I would ask him, “Would you take more time for yourself away from the spotlight and public eye? Was there anything that could have been done to stop you?” As an ongoing advocate for raising mental health awareness, in part because of the tragic loss of Robin Williams, I want to ask these questions to learn how to make better environments for others that are stuck in the same headspace he was.
This fall, when I begin in the Honors College at University of California, San Diego, I hope to help advocate for a safe, open space where everyone feels confident to be themselves. Then I would ask Robin, “If you could act in only one of your movies, which one would you choose and why?” Yes, my questions change topics dramatically. However, that’s what Robin Williams was famous for.
The Robin Williams Tunnel
“From 1937-2015 the official name of this Marin, California tunnel was The Waldo Tunnel, since it is located on the Waldo Grade, due North of the Golden Gate Bridge. After 1969 it was much more commonly referred to as The Rainbow Tunnel because of the striking colors on the southern approach. In 2015 the State of California renamed the tunnel The Robin Williams tunnel, in honor of the late actor and comedian who grew up, and lived in, the area. Although he was famous for wearing rainbow suspenders as Mork from the TV show, Mork and Mindy, Robin had already worn them as part of his stand up comic act before being signed for the famous show.”
- Our Sausolito