happy thanksgiving to all
this is a good time to tell you about normal rockwell. you see, i consider myself a painter and normal rockwell is also a painter. i, like most people, have seen many reproductions of norman rockwell paintings throughout my life, countless times. i’ve seen them so much in fact, that i don’t think about them as great paintings, or rockwell as some great artist. at least i didn’t until i saw the originals one time… i was in massachusettes visiting the in-laws family, and somewhere along our travels we passed the exit for the norman rockwell museum and then we were there, a relative paying my admission, and then i was standing in front of the original painting, the one pictured here but also many more. it was a life changing moment in my life… at least it seems so now. and i think it seemed so then as well. i think it was this painting pictured above that almost brought me to tears. and if i remember correctly, i had to fight the crying because i was around so many people. i was so moved and inspired and amazed by the paintings… this painting is big and to see it up close is simply unbelievable. so hard to imagine, as a painter, someone painting this picture. all the pictures were great but the room with the series that included this one was my favorite. i felt something similar at the morandi show in new york /// painters would relate to what i say no doubt, but anyone else would wrinkle their brow and think ” is he crazy? what the heck is he talking about, fighting tears over a painting…” maybe i’m wrong… maybe non-painters also feel so strongly, i’m sure other guests to the rockwell museum could corroborate…
you know what? i have so much i am thankful for. truckloads. i was happy to see families gathering tonight, finding out about their thanksgiving plans. one customer is going to have 28 people, down from the 60 he once had… jen and john will be among 5, others with aunts and cousins, one starting a roast tonight- no turkey- and some with still no plan… i will be at a table set for 18… i can think of 17 right now…. who am i missing?
i am stoked. i’ve always said new years was my favorite holiday but thanksgiving is pretty close…. the food! man, i can’t wait.
thanks to gainesville for writing kind emails, quick hellos in the kitchen, the regulars like danielle who order all the time… we love the regulars, and i always love talking to the seniors. can i call them blue hairs? is that offensive? you know, i always wanted to make a “satchel’s is for geezers” t-shirt but i don’t want to offend the senior set… but i must admit i especially love talking to the “over 60 crowd” as they always make my night and seem to be having the most fun. table 1 tonight was a group of 5 that i really enjoyed. one guy said it was the best pizza he ever had. that single compliment i hear a lot and it always makes my night. especially when it comes from someone over 60…. that’s a lot of years of eating pizza. we have such great customers and employees…
norman rockwell…. if you ever go to massachusettes, for whatever reason, please find and visit the norman rockwell museum and see these things in real life. then email me and let me know if it was an incredible experience. i’m pretty sure i’m just crazy, but it’ll be good to find out for sure.
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