Because we are twisted, my husband, daughter and I have a weird tradition: When someone dies –typically a celebrity– they are “Orbach” or “Orbached.” As in Jerry Orbach.

This all began back in when Jerry Orbach died. Apparently my daughter, a huge Dirty Dancing fan, had the hardest time accepting that Baby’s dad was dead. It took us a while to convince her that Jerry Orbach was, in fact, dead. For a while, I thought grief counseling might be needed. From that point on, we referred to deceased celebrities as  Jerry Orbach or some variation.

It’s become some macabre competition as to who can notify whom quicker that someone has become Orbached.

Yesterday my daughter texted me that Amy Winehouse was Orbach. I was not surprised. Sad, but not surprised.

What has surprised me is that people are surprised. Or shocked. Really? I’ll be surprised if it comes out that it was anything non-drugged related — like a spider bite. Anything else? Not so surprising, folks. This woman sparred with addiction for years. I won’t say battled because, let’s face it, she didn’t exactly battle addiction. She more had a slap fight with it.

Her talent was amazing. Everyone who worked with her said as much. Addiction is a horrendous thing. I wish Amy Winehouse had lived far longer before she had Orbached.

RIP Amy Winehouse.  You join the ranks of some very talented people gone too soon.