Chaz Ebert: 'It Wasn't Roger's Time to Go'

His wife recounts how they stayed positive through illness
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 20, 2010 11:17 AM CDT

Chaz Ebert gives an exclusive interview to PopEater, focused—not at all surprisingly—on the positivity and hope surrounding husband Roger Ebert’s battle with cancer. Highlights:

  • On Roger's prognosis: “I just had a very deeply spiritual—almost psychic feeling—it was not his time to go; that he was going to be around for other things, and that I had to fight for him to be here.”
  • On their attitude: “Sometimes, I'm almost ashamed we feel so positive. People think you shouldn't be so happy, because when you fall, it's going to be that much more disappointing. But you know what? We'll take each day as it comes.”

  • On hope: “A few people told me when he was really sick and he didn't look good, and I said, ‘I have this feeling things will be OK.’ They said, ‘You're in denial.’ I said, ‘I may be, but hope is a strategy.’”
  • On their relationship: “We do not feel like a couple who has been married for almost 20 years. We still feel like we are teenagers in high school, going through life together, having fun, learning about things and still curious about what's going to happen tomorrow.”
  • On the movie they disagree about: “I still can't see why he doesn't think A Clockwork Orange is a four-star movie. That's the one that still baffles me.”
For the complete interview—including the reason Roger finally gave up his belief that “Twitter is for twits”—click here. (More Chaz Ebert stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X