Anthony Bourdain’s Death: How It Motivated Me
I am waking up this morning and hearing of Anthony Bourdain’s death. I am not bothered often by celebrity deaths and the mourning that accompanies them on social media. To me, this feels different. This one is important enough, striking a chord that remained hidden in the depths. I’m not too fond of this feeling. I am saddened; also, I am a bit angry.
I’m not sure when I first saw or heard one of his shows. He was pretty straightforward and almost presented himself in a black or white sense. You either loved and appreciated Tony or hated him right away. I got his way of communicating and enjoyed it; Instantly, I became hooked. I was a fan.
His Shows Were Visionary
Bourdain uncovered the layers, scraping away at what you would typically see, and dug into the filth. It didn’t matter if the story was about people, food, a city, or culture. It was raw, and It was real; that was Tony. The result would be a new way of telling a story and seeing the framed normality with a different skew. I loved his interpretations and clarity, his view, his style.
What’s Left After Anthony Bourdain’s Death?
Anthony Bourdain melded two of my favorite things, food & travel, and then shared them with us over the years. As a result, we now have books, T.V. shows, and series, interviews, The Roadrunner movie, and tweets to look back on to delve into our fountain of knowledge. A voice that was taken away and is now silent, and these pieces are what remain.
I remember a year ago waking up and seeing a simple short tweet from him. “It’s Batali, and it’s bad.” I was to the point and concise. He knew that this issue (me too/abuse) would be more significant than it seemed at the time. Now, this morning, I wake to see some tweets, and I am thinking at first, “It’s Bourdain, and it’s bad.” Sadly my thoughts were confirmed. Anthony Bourdain’s death burns like a fresh scar. With time that scar will heal and fade but will still be visible on the surface.
I felt inspired to travel and see things how he did. That is how I can pay my respects. Bourdain helped me craft a version of myself that will eat, drink, interact, and look at life and people worldwide through a different lens.
He stirred something inside of me, a connection, almost a bond. Motivated to do something, I will work more on this blog. One day I can try to be a better writer, a better storyteller. I can learn to communicate better with others even though I’d prefer to be in my quiet, comfortable, and intimate space. He was able to, so I know that I can as well. R.I.P. Chef
Photo Credit: Stuck in Customs Flickr via Compfight cc
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