What You Hear

A couple of weeks ago as I was sitting at my desk at work, Falko the K-ROCK deejay made a sad announcement. I thought he said, "Keith Richards is dead" and I was of course immediately saddened at the loss of a consummate performer and character, but I also found myself thinking: now, there's no surprise!
When the news bulletin was repeated and this time expanded, I heard that he was one of the principal actors in Brokeback Mountain. So I'm thinking, I saw that show -- where was Keith? What part could he have possibly played in that movie and how could I have missed him?
Then I realized it was not Keith Richards, but in fact Heath Ledger. A similar-sounding name, right?
It was sad to hear the surrounding circumstances as they unfolded that day and in the ensuing several days. He was a good actor, but had his demons. Too bad.
However, I find it ironic (or even humorous in some macabre way) that I was so quick to accept the demise of Keith. What is it about him that makes one so ready to think he's dead? When I heard awhile back that he'd fallen out of a tree in Fiji (or some such thing) I waited for days to hear the sad news of his untimely demise. I've given him up for dead a few times. Sorry Keith! I think when you finally DO go, no one will be more surprised than I.