Robin was diagnosed as bipolar and to me that is a sound diagnosis. When a bipolar has a bout of mania, the depression is deep and dark. Jonathan Winters also had it. He had to be hospitalized several times. Pat Conroy (The Great Santini) also is bipolar and has bouts of depression so bad he is also hospitalized. Many creative people suffer from this disorder.
Robin assisted Christopher Reeve when he broke his back and became a quadriplegic. He took care of all the medical bills.
He had two bad divorces and just got married. So he had financial problems. He was trying to sell his ranch. Finding out he had Parkinson's likely reminded him of the life of Christopher Reeve, who suffered even breathing. It is thought that using cocaine regularly is a precursor to Parkinson's but that's not 100%. We demanded a lot from Robin, and his manic side complied. He used cocaine and alcohol to ease the depression.
It is easier for me to understand Robin than some of the young guys that come home now and are just angry, angry, angry and won't talk. They just go kiss the barrel. I lost a friend from 'Nam recently and I really don't get that one either. 4 kids, a beautiful wife, and 9 grandchildren.
I guess that's why we are here.
