From reading several of your posts, I know that I have a couple of years on many of you. And, I can tell you from experience that it doesn't get any easier or go away as you get older. Sentimentality is a stong emotion, and, as you get older, you find yourself starting to look BACK. And that can be enjoyable, especially in the arts, where you have something tangible to hold on to or remember them by.
One thing I find interesting, but not earth shattering...If the "artist" who passes away is no longer producing or contributing art, or passes away at an older age, it is easier to deal with. But, if the artist is still vital, even releasing new material, well, that makes it a little tougher - selfishly, I guess. Take Dylan for example. If he's still churning out albums and/or touring, I'll think "Damn" - even though he has given us more than we could ever ask for. A little like Johnny Cash I guess. But, take an artist who stopped producing new material years ago, it stings for sure, but not as much. That's when the sentimentality sinks in. The world was a better place when they were around, and just knowing tey were around...
You know, as I get a little older(I'm 24), I find myself looking back, and trying to hold on to some of my childhood experiences. It really started in the last year or so. My dad got sick in the last few months of 2008, and slowly got worse until he died on September 18th of 2009. I find myself watching old Disney cartoons of Mickey, Goofy and Donald(don't laugh!). I remember watching the same cartoons many years ago with my Dad. I find myself really starting to miss that...."familiarity". Does that make any sense? It's that old familiar feeling of almost a kind of "comfort". It's that certain little "magic" that I miss. That warm, peacful period where for a brief minute, everything in the world was perfect.
