A number of fellas have played Bozo the Clown over the years. Frank Avruch was the best. The world became a little bit less joyful earlier this week in the wake of his death at the age of 89.

Avruch played Bozo on TV during the height of the clown's popularity in the 1950s through to the 1970s. When not in front of the camera, Avruch wore the clown's smiling face and big, floppy shoes as a UNICEF Ambassador, bringing happiness to kids around the world. In 2007, his efforts for UNICEF were recognized by the United Nations.

According to The Boston Globe, Avruch is survived by his with, two sons and a whack of grandchildren. Read the rest

How long can you hold onto something good? Is all pleasure fleeting? Is this a comic element of being alive, or a tragic one?

Amy Joyce writes about losing her mother to cancer, not long after she became a mom herself. "When I started thinking about writing about losing my mom, I thought I would be able to fill pages with what exactly has been lost. But it sort of comes down to one thing that my wise 3-year-old said recently, when he didn’t want me to leave his room after a prolonged bath-books-bed routine. He grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let go and whined: 'But I want you forever!'" (HT: @aileengraef) Read the rest