It was a Saturday morning when I found out that Normal Mailer had died at the age of 84. It was when I rummaged through my computer. I eventually turned it off, and decided not to open it up until the next morning. I consider Norman Mailer as my hero, and it’s so sad that a lot of my heroes are gradually leaving us behind.

I admit that there are many issues that the both of us didn’t agree on, but it doesn’t matter anymore. He was one of those very few people, who would fearlessly write on what they believed in.

I spent the rest of the day trying to remember what Norman had done. I couldn’t help but recall the 1948 book entitled The Naked and the Dead, which I have read around the year 1969, when I was 16.

From that certain instance, I have read almost everything he had published, and if there was anything about him on the television, I would always watch. I think he never failed to make things interesting. I guess people who write, and people who appear frequently on TV could never match up Norman Mailer’s interesting personality.

I’m pretty sure that I had last seen him on Charlie Rose, and a show that I can’t remember at this point. He had a small hearing problem, but he had high spirits. It so saddening that his appearance was just too short.

I forgave his politics a long time ago. The difference between Norman and many other liberals was that he really believed in his ideas. He was just as likely to call a Democrat on the carpet as a Republican.

At times Mailer was savaged by the New York literary establishment and by critics. He didn’t care two hoots in hell what they thought, and just kept writing and speaking.

I enjoyed Norman Mailer’s last masterpiece entitled The Castle in the Forest, it was even rumoured that he was planning to work on a trilogy on Hitler.

When I heard that on Charlie Rose I was excited.

The disappointment I felt on Saturday was crushing. No trilogy. Another hero gone.

I felt better by the next day. But still, I couldn’t forget the fact that Norman was just one of the few who would stand for people’s rights to defend themselves. I’m sure Norman knew about the weasels in his party. The vast shadow that hid them was not enough to keep Norman Mailer blind. He knew all along that they had no courage at all.

Because he could write fearlessly, they couldn’t

He was a real man, and there are precious few of those around.

I imagine the dialogue in heaven is going to be a lot richer from now on.

So, I guess, if God needs somebody to keep Him on his toes, Norman Mailer would be up for the job.