THE BUDDHA ON THE BAR STOOL

An appreciation of George Wendt and Norm Peterson

As with so many others, I was very saddened to hear of the recent passing of George Wendt. Wendt of course played Norm Peterson on the long-running TV series Cheers which was situated in a bar of the same name. Norm was an interesting character because in his off-hours (and maybe during some of his on-hours) he could almost always be found sitting on a corner bar stool sipping a beer and talking to his friends. He was relentlessly unambitious which made him an unusual character in a culture that basically prizes ambition, striving and success.

But Norm was also interesting because he seemed to have achieved that rare emotional state known as contentment. He knew what made him content and he pursued that contentment with laser-like focus. It is my perception that so many people often feel they can only be content once they have worked for years to accumulate wealth and/or status. Norm demonstrated that contentment is available now and in the moment, and that is an important lesson for us all.

Although Cheers is a relentlessly funny show, its foundations are melancholy. The opening theme song speaks of a world that is hard and anonymous. The music of the closing credits also has a sad almost mournful tinge to it. The bar was in essence Norm's sanctuary from the difficulties and chaos of the outside world.

Wendt had great and reliable comedic timing. He predictably delivered his many one-liners with the precision of a professional baseball player hitting a home run. He was a solid anchor to Cheers and will be sorely missed.

After I heard that Wendt had passed away, I had a vision in my mind of his ascending with wings to Heaven and being greeted by a chorus of angels shouting "Norm!"

-Paul Hansen