Jimmy Smits

I went to a small private college in the Chicago burbs just less than an hour from home. I lived on campus, and met a core group of 4 friends (**Tuschka, ATTW1 <“And then there was one….” Whenever this annoy kid saw ATTW1- he always announced him as such, and the nickname kinda stuck>, Bob, Ms. M aka my BFF, a few more cast of characters joined, but that was the core) that became my new family nucleus for the next four years. One of the best stories that we still laugh about happened freshman year the Wednesday before thanksgiving.

Tuschka, ATTW1, and I were hanging out in ATTW1’s room watching TV or something, and I was waiting for my dad to call to say he was here to pick me up. He called, I left, and when I got home, I started to unpack things. I turned on the TV for background noise. NYPD Blue was on. Now let me preface by saying that I have never seen an episode of NYPD Blue, I knew about the premise of the show, but it was not something that blipped on my 18 year old radar. It was the episode where Jimmy Smits character dies on the show.

OH.
MY.
GOD.

I was hysterical. Uncontrollable sobs. I was a mess. People coming into the hospital room to say goodbye to him before they pull the plug, and mean while Jimmy is in limbo between life and death. Oy- I get a little verklempt just thinking about it. Then Dennis Franz is up…and I’m one step away from a breakdown… he does his goodbye, the plug is pulled and you see Jimmy in heaven with his son.

OH.
MY.
GOD.

Now I’m certifiable- I can’t breathe, I can’t stop the choking sobs, and I’m falling apart. My rational thought process is to find Tuschka, and share my grief. I called her room- no answer. I prayed she was still in ATTW1’s room.

ATTW1: Hello
Me: Hey it’s me, is Tuschka there?
ATTW1: Is everything okay?
Me: Kinda, I need Tuschka…
ATTW1: Uh-it’s L, for you, I think something’s wrong.
(a little aside- boys- soo dumb sometimes...someone's on the phone crying and they 'think' somethings wrong???? HELLO!!!!)
Tuschka: OMG what’s wrong???
Me: Tuschka- JIMMY SMITS JUST DIED!!! (sob, sob, sob)
Tuschka: What???
Me: I was watching NYPD Blue and Jimmy Smits just died, and it was so sad… and everyone is at the hospital to say goodbye before they pull the plug… and then when they do he’s in heaven WITH HIS DEAD SON!!!! It’s soooo sad!!! I can’t stop crying!!! (sob, sob, sob)
Tuschka: You watch NYPD Blue??
Me: No- it was just on and I started watching….and he dies!! (sob, sob)
Tuschka to AATW1: It’s okay, L was just crying about NYPD Blue…
Tuschka to me: Are you going to be okay??
Me: Yeah, I just needed to tell someone, and I knew you’d understand. But, really…it’s really, really sad.

Monday at school, it was the big joke at lunch. Everyone was laughing at me. But I’m strong and I took it like a true woman. They just didn’t understand.

Then fast forward to 3 years post college, and I get a hysterical call from Tuschka.

Me: OMG, Tuschka, what’s wrong??
Tuschka: Um- I just saw an NYPD Blue re-run… Jimmy Smits just died. OMG, L, it’s really, really, horribly sad…. I can’t stop crying!
Me: I KNOW!!! Now you know my pain!!
Tuschka: God, this is awful. I finally understand the freshman year hysterics.

I have many more Jimmy Smits-esque moment…oddly enough Tuschka is involved with most of them…actually I think all of them…

That is a true ROWYCO moment.

**Nicknames have been created to protect the innocent