Who is Alex Trebek?
My family loves Jeopardy. We record every episode and binge-watch them as we sit around the kitchen table scarfing down dinner. We shout the answers over one another and argue over who was first. We laugh when we get something wrong and point out when someone misinterpreted the category ("It has to start and end with the letter A!")
When you're a little kid, Jeopardy seems like the hardest game show ever. Who could ever remember all those details and facts? Don't get me wrong, it's still hard, but it's definitely gotten easier over the years. I always get a little cocky after getting a few answers right in a row. My parents sometimes complain that I don't wait for Alex to finish reading the clue but it's not my fault I can read faster than them!
Alex Trebek was a constant figure in our house. Even after his passing, he still will be. Alex Trebek and Jeopardy are intertwined. You can't have one without the other. Yes, there will be a new host, most likely in the new year, but his spirit will always be there. His snarky comments, his (what sometimes seemed like) feigned interest in the contestant's stories, his on-and-off moustache, and the passion he displayed every night for his job will always be there. And the impact that he has had on millions of people worldwide will never diminish. He will live on in us (and in the re-runs).
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to beat. I think we all knew this was going to happen, even though we all hoped it wouldn't. Grieving over people you've never met is always a little odd; I didn't know Alex personally, and yet it seemed like I did.
If it weren't for Jeopardy — and therefore Alex Trebek — I would probably be a little less nerdy. And I like being a little nerdy.
Thank you, Alex.
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