I believe it was way back in 2001, I was living out in Los Angeles…only a few months into my west coast adventure after moving out from New Jersey. I was tagging along with some friends (and ex wife) to a badass Halloween party that was being held at Cal Arts in lovely Santa Clarita. My foggy brain remembers being introduced to a whirlwind of people, but one “hello” always stayed with me even all these years later.
He was dressed as a UPS delivery driver, complete with a package. As soon as he turned around, I knew that face instantly. How could I not?!? I grew up idolizing him and laughing with him each and every week on his unique and creative show. Moments of his movies were embedded into my memory forever. His voice, his actions, his laugh. This guy was one of the faces from my youth that provided me with endless hours of joy. I’m taking about Paul Rubens…aka Pee Wee Herman.
Apparently he attended that school decades earlier and knew some folks that taught and attended there, so he just wanted to pop by to say hello to his fellow alum. I remember nervously waking up to him and just blurting a “hello” over the loud music to which he responded back with a “hello” accompanied by a smile and a wave. That was it. That was my limited interaction with a comedic legend over 20 years ago.
As the years went on and I wiggled my way into circles I had no business belonging in, I got less and less star struck and more and more comfortable I’m my own skin. But I thought back on that interaction through the years whenever I saw Paul pop up in something. Always chuckling to myself as to how fanboyish I probably came off at that silly Halloween party held what seems life a lifetime ago.
While I hadn’t thought of this particular memory in quite sometime, I am heartbroken to have it front and center in my mind once again as it’s accompanied by the truly awful news of Paul’s passing. I guess he had been privately been battling cancer recently and finally lost the battle at age 70. Still ultimately so young. At 43 now, I feel like this type of deflating news has been happening a bit more as my childhood idols have been succumbing to Father Time and the oftentime terrible ailments that come along with it.
It’s simply part of this magical journey called life, but it can be a tough pill to swallow from time to time. This…being one of em for me. It’ll be a bittersweet feeling after this initial funk fades as I casually watch his performances going forward. Thank you for the constant laughs growing up Mr. Rubens. You were a true gem that will shine bright in my heart and mind forever and I’m grateful to even have that smidge of a story that connects us. Rest well brother…
Blewitt