Thanks to a friend I borrowed Carrie Fisher's book Wishful Drinking about her life as a child OF a celebrity, her addictions and life AS a celebrity and her struggle with manic depression (bipolar).
First of all this book is a fast, easy and funny read for anyone. "There is no underwear in space" is a George Lucas quote I'll remember forever. The name-dropping is quite extensive and while she briefly discusses her addictions, it's not like a 12-step recovery book. Mostly it's just hysterical (I literally fell off the bed when reading it).
But what made it best for me was reading her discuss bipolar disorder and LAUGHING about it. Not in a minimalize-the-seriousness-of-the-illness kind of way... but in a, I need to laugh about it so I can find some kind of enjoyment in life and not end up committed-kind-of-way.
She shares when she finds out that it is HER FACE in Leia costume illustrating an entry about Bipolar in a medical journal. (It's an angry Leia picture too. How wacko would that be to discover?)
"Having waited my entire life to get an award for something, anything...I now get awards all the time for being mentally ill."
So you know if we're giving out awards for mental illness, how about a parade too?
"I thought I would inaugurate a Bipolar Pride Day. You know, with floats and parades and stuff! On the floats we would get the depressives, and they wouldn’t even have to leave their beds - we’d just roll their beds out of their houses, and they could continue staring off miserably into space. And then for the manics, we’d have the manic marching band, with manics laughing and talking and shopping and f***ing and making bad judgment calls."
Unfortunately, it's hard for me to laugh at myself (or anything) during the depressed time... but that above quote always brings a smile to my face no matter what. My bed's on wheels Carrie, no matter the mood, I'd be honored to be in your parade :)
Thanks for the laughs and reminding us we're not alone.
And for that story about Harrison Ford.
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