Big Bird at Jim Henson's Memorial

[Are_grits_groceries]

Big Bird: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZyMptC2eQ

Medley by Muppeteers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHe39ZTCs-4 (part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZMj5jCJVkg (part 2 )

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/05/twenty-years-later-remembering-jim-henson/all/1

***sigh*** :loveya:

[rhett o rick]

1. k & r

[Echo In Light]

2. K/R

[Ian David]

3. Another life cut tragically short by alt medicine / Religion. RIP, Jim. n/t

<snip>

While the negotiations were still in progress, Henson became seriously ill. A kind and patient man, Henson did not alert a doctor or visit a hospital because he did not believe he was sick; nor did he want to bother anyone. He had been raised as a Christian Scientist, a religion that does not subscribe to conventional health care practices. By the time he sought medical attention, it was too late to treat him. Henson died an untimely death from an aggressive form of pneumonia called Group A streptococcus in New York City on May 16, 1990.
http://www.answers.com/topic/jim-henson

See also:

Doug Henning

<snip>

Eventually he abandoned magic and studied Transcendental Meditation, through which he claimed he was able to levitate. Then, he ran in the 1993 Canadian federal election as a candidate for the Nature Law Party. And to top off his full and borderline ridiculous life, he then began plans for a crazy billion-dollar project called Maharishi Veda Land that was to be a place in the Himalayas where illusion, aural and visual sensory entertainment, and all kinds of magical trickery was on offer. Along with, apparently, organic burgers.

Henning died in 2000 just five months after being diagnosed with cancer. Apparently he was so dedicated to Transcendental Meditation that he refused all medical treatment.

More:
http://www.lifelounge.com/doug-henning.aspx

[nolabear]

4. indeed. k&r

[Javaman]

5. Damn, it's been 20 years...

20 year and 6 months ago, I had the unique and amazing opportunity to meet Mr. Henson.

I was young, in my mid twenties and working as a PA for a well known production company at the time. It was one of the very few houses in LA that had a production staff on payroll. It was really nice and lucky to have that opportunity. :)

Like all PA's, a good chunk of my time, when not on a shoot, was running (doing pick ups and deliveries of various production oriented stuff. equipment, messages,etc).

One of the subsidiaries of the production company was an animation house. So, from time to time, I would do a run or two for them.

This particular day, I get a page from dispatch for a pickup for the animation house. Not knowing what it was, I was just given an address and and a name, off I went. Pretty typical.

Entering into the lobby and checking out the listings board, I found I was going up to Henson Productions. I was secretly a little giddy.

I'm a massive film geek and growing up, I would eat, sleep and poop films. I also grew up on Sesame Street. Loved me some Muppet's!

Generally speaking, most of my runs would be pretty dry. Even though I would go into these various hallowed halls of moviedom, rarely if ever did I meet anyone famous. It was just usually the receptionist or some office flunky. "here's your package, etc".

So up the elevator I went, and frankly, I wasn't expecting anything, but I was just so happy to be in Henson Productions offices. Yes, I'm that kind of geek. lol

I go up to the receptionist and pick up the envelope. As I turn to leave, there is Mr. Henson. !!!!

I usually don't get star struck but this guy helped shaped my childhood. I mean, other than my parents, who else can say that? He was standing in the hall talking to someone about...A MUPPET!!. LOL

One of the rules for my job was never ever to speak to clients or the "famous people". It was considered taboo and a job killer.

I couldn't help myself. Cautiously I approached him.

Now you have to understand something, when I worked as a PA, I was far from the collegiate type looking guy. Southern California in the Summer can be brutal, so you dress for comfort and efficiency.

I was wearing shorts, a tank top, dew rag, high top sneakers and a fanny packet (yes, they were very popular and frankly a vital tool to the PA trade back then).

I was somewhat timid and he noticed me and said, "hi".

I was like a blithering idiot from that point on, I just spewed out, "oh Mr. Henson, I thank you so much for the influence you had upon my life when I was a kid and when I was growing up, you have made such a mark upon my life".

He asked me my name then said, "thank you very much". I thanked him again, and left.

6 months later, he was gone. I'm so thankful for that moment.

Thank you Mr. Henson, you indeed have made such a mark on my life.