There was a TV show back in the 60’s called, "That Was The Week That Was."

  I think we all agree, the week of June 21-28 will go down was one of the most memorable in recent years.

  In seven days we witnessed the deaths of three entertainment legends, a TV pitchman we see every day, and Gov. Mark Sanford’s political career.

  I "met" Ed McMahon in 1962 when I was 11-years-old. Forced to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. on school nights, I was allowed to stay up late on Friday.

  I became a fan of "The Tonight Show," first with Jack Paar, then with Johnny Carson and his sidekick Ed.

  The program changed the sleep patterns of millions of Americans, because in its first 20-years or so, the program stayed on until 1 a.m., an hour and a half every night.

  From the time I went to college until 1992, I watched practically every episode. I felt I knew Johnny and Ed like members of my family.

  I watched "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" from the time was 11 until I was 41. When Johnny retired in 1992, it was like a death in the family. No more Johnny, Ed and Doc.

  As much as I like Jay Leno and David Letterman, I have not been able to watch them with regularity. It’s not the same.

  I still have the copy of Farrah Fawcett’s poster I bought in 1975.

  Someone said it might be valuable now that Farrah has passed away.

  My answer was, "How can something that sold 12 million copies be valuable?"

  Johnny Carson changed sleeping habits, and Farrah changed the hairstyles of millions of women in the 70’s.

  The "do" she wore on her poster and on "Charlie’s Angels" became the rage.

  In the last few years, Farrah’s cancer fight touched the heart of America. She wanted to document what she was going through, and share it with America. Of course, she wanted her documentary to end on a happy note. Didn’t we all?

  Ed was 86, Farrah was sick, but Michael Jackson’s death was "jaw dropping."

  Michael and the Jackson Five came on the scene when I was a senior in high school, so I’ve spent 40-years with him.

  In my younger days, I could remember the words to songs, so I can still sing most of the Jackson Five’s hits. "I’ll Be There" has always been one of my favorite songs.

  Michael was one of the most talented kids I’ve ever seen. He had an amazing voice, and unmatched dance moves.

  While we were singing and dancing to his songs, we didn’t once think that little boy never had a childhood.

  I saw Gladys Knight on one of the news programs and she said, "He never got to go to a baseball game."

  Isn’t that sad?

  Michael left his brothers and went out on his own, and "Thriller" was the greatest selling album in history.

  I was amazed last year, while tailgating at a Carolina game, to see coeds do the "Thriller" dance when the song came on the radio.

  "Thriller" came out in 1982, and college kids 26-years later knew how to do the dance. That’s an impact.

  After "Thriller," Jackson began to get weird - in many ways. A good looking young man started undergoing plastic surgery after plastic surgery. No one understands why, because it was not needed.

  Perhaps, it all goes back to the fact he worked practically his entire life. The greatest entertainer of our time was worn out at 50.

  If anyone benefitted from the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson on the same day, it was Gov. Mark Sanford. He was pushed from the lead story on the national news to the middle.

  The "Governor is Missing" story made the news early in the week. We were told he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. It was Father’s Day weekend, but his wife did not know where he was. H-m-m-m....

  Then we were told the Governor was not hiking the Appalachian Trail. He was in Argentina. How do you get from the Appalachian Trail to Argentina? That was one heck of a hike!

  The Governor came back home and scheduled a news conference, and after explaining his fascination with hiking the Appalachian Trail throughout his life, he moved telling the world he had been unfaithful to his wife with a woman in Argentina.

  I was not expecting that! Argentina?!!!

  All the network political experts said Sanford ruined his chances for running for president in 2012.

  I never understood that "rising star’ in the Republican Party tag the put on the Governor. If he can’t get along with the Republican legislators in the S.C. General Assembly, how would be get along with the Republican legislators in Washington?

  The Governor said he is not going to resign, and will try to form a better relationship with the General Assembly in his last 18 months in office.

  May as well.

  Hats off to First Lady Jenny Stanford. She did not pull one of those Tammy Wynette, "Stand By Your Man" moments at her husband’s press conference, as so many other wronged political wives have done. She was nowhere to be seen.

  She said she didn’t care about her husband’s career. Her main concern was her family.

  The shocking week ended with the death of TV pitchman Billy Mays.

  We saw Billy Mays every day, didn’t we? As a matter of fact, we got tired of seeing him every day. Yet, I’ve been known to go to my computer and order a product he advertised.

  "That was the week that was."

  I was saddened to learn of the death of Tom Holstein last week.

  Edwin Crouch was in the Sentinel office last Monday and told me Tom was in critical condition.

  Edwin had grown up with Tom, and Tom and my first cousins Sam and Mary Gene Holstein.

  I’ve known "Tommy" all my life. When we’d visit Aunt Mildred and Uncle Sam Holstein at their Monetta home, we’d usually get to see Tom and his family, brothers Dick and Jeff, sister Mary Louise, and parents R.H. and Louise, who lived just down the road in Saluda County peach country.

  All the Shealys became close to all the Holsteins.

  We grow up, however. I’d see Tom at the Farm Bureau annual meetings, and that was about it. It’s amazing how far 10 to 12 miles can be.

  Saluda County lost a farm leader and a good man in Tom Holstein. He will be missed.