Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:40 am Posts: 25451 Location: 111 Archer Ave.
Yesterday evening I supped at a work acquaintance's house. After dinner, coffee and dessert was served in the study, a room which was tastefully decorated with framed maps and Kinkades. The pieces set a somber mood, unfortunately, what with the man's recent passing. Still, the conversation was just what I needed to cap off my week. Kinkade was and always will be a genius. A real master of light.
I'll never forget the day that I met Thomas Kinkade. He has a Keillor-esque presence, and when he speaks to you, you feel as if his paintings are speaking through him.
I met him in the Winter of 2007 while I was working as a lifeguard at the Wilton P. Hebert Health and Wellness Center in Beaumont, TX. He was in town for a signing and came to my pool for his daily swim. A thin layer of frost coated the grass outside, so the only pool available was the indoor pool which was understandably crowded. As he entered, a few lanes opened up for him. It was clear that in the regular swimmers' eyes, he had earned his right to choose any lane he wanted. He chose the second to the right.
After a few laps of freestyle, he spoke to me from the edge of the pool. "Young man", he addressed me, "could you toss one of those kickboards my way?" I walked down and handed a kickboard to him and he smiled and thanked me. He went on to do about 10 more laps with the board, and I must say, he had strong legs probably up until the day he died. After the laps with the kickboard, he called me over once again to bring him a towel. After detaching his goggles and resetting his stop watch, he spoke a few words that I have thought about to this day. "Water", he said, "Is very good for the body." He took a sip from his bottle and continued. "Everyone knows that. Some will even tell you that water is good for the soul. What people seldom tell you and what I want to share with you now, is that water is good for the body's constitution." The only thing that I managed to say was a timid "have a good day, Mr. Kinkade", and before I knew it he was gone.
About thirty minutes later it was time to check the chlorine and ph levels in the water and I wasn't the least bit surprised to see that the ph had taken a turn for the worse.
This is the greatest internet post I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:40 am Posts: 25451 Location: 111 Archer Ave.
It's been exactly one year since this man left this world. Has Mr. Kinkade's legacy left us feeling a little bit brighter, or have the illuminations from his canvases served to make our worldwide darkness more apparent by comparison?
It's been exactly one year since this man left this world. Has Mr. Kinkade's legacy left us feeling a little bit brighter, or have the illuminations from his canvases served to make our worldwide darkness more apparent by comparison?
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