Good-bye, Butch.

[frahulettaes]

I must have been around 13 or so the first time I saw Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Don't get me wrong, I'd seen Paul Newman in lots of other movies. Back then, everyday at 3:30 there was a movie on channel 7 or 5. I'd faithfully watched Swords and Sandals week and Cowboy Week and Errol Flynn week. So I knew who Paul Newman was. But when I saw BCATSK, something inside me cracked open. I started going to the desert more and watched and read every western I could get my hands on. I watched that darn movie a lot and for a while it was for Robert Redford but Paul was always there, always the undercurrent behind it all.

When The Sting came out or when I first saw it, I was really happy to see my two boys in a movie together again. (sense a theme in my life? me too, upon reflection) The Sting was amazing, its script became vernacular in our household and the nose sign part of our family lexicon for 'get me the hell outta here!'.

I didn't regret Paul leaving the limelight to move on to his food company nor did I loose my fondness for his movies. I just moved on, like many did, and got new interests. I still watch those old shows so I can remember and because they make me feel young again.

It's been a big year. Full of changes and losses and betrayals. My heart feels sad and sore and like one more loss is going to break me. I didn't know him personally, but the loss of him still hits me hard in the heart.

Thanks for the memories, Paul. Hope there's a heaven, for your sake. Or something just as grand and awesome as your were to me.

CFJ