The Old Man and the Me
In a couple of weeks I am headed to Key West to attend Hemingway Days. This is a big deal for me: I have avoided it for decades. I am going to Hemingway Days for three things:
To attend a birthday party the family is throwing the Old Man;
To help a charity raise money for a worthy cause;
To enjoy the company of the Old Man's fans
because I am a fan myself.
Why have I never been before? Sigh. Sullen immaturity, mostly.
Early on, my cousin Hilary told me it would be fun. I said no, because I burn easily in the sun; and Key West in July? Please.
Later on, my brother Eddie went and told me that it was, in fact, fun. He suggested that I join him sometime. I said no, because I felt that I was too cool to go hang out with a bunch of the Old Man's fans: I was pretty sick of the Old Man by that time even though he died just before I was born. Well, I was sick of the idea of him, of talking about him and of being compared to him.
In my defense, being compared to someone who was awarded a Pulitzer prize and a Nobel prize and was world-famous both his art and his enviable life is no picnic. For the record, I have no Pulitzer prize and no Nobel prize. I am not "an icon of 20th century masculinity" nor am I famous for, well, anything.
Recently I listened to Donald Sutherland reading "The Old Man and the Sea" and I really enjoyed it. I was reminded that, in addition to making me roll my eyes an awful lot when I was younger, the Old Man also wrote some wonderful books. In fact, being about the age he was when he wrote it, I found "The Old Man and the Sea" resonated with my own growing sense that there is more behind me than before me. Only better written.
It was about this time that the chance to become more involved with Hemingway Days presented itself and this time I said that it sounded like fun. I have finally gotten over myself, just a little bit.
Besides, this should be kind of a blast. Birthday parties are fun. Raising money for literacy speaks to me. Being around other fans of the Old Man could be a delight. What's not to like? I am even being joined by Eddie, which is icing on the cake for me.
At my age I am more about the thinking than the drinking, but I have been assured that there will be lots of opportunity for both. So come on down and join us! And if you see someone who definitely isn't famous but who looks vaguely like the Old Man signing things or waving from a podium or car, wave back so I know that we are both having fun.
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Brendan Hemingway
Executive Vice President & Secretary
Hemingway, LTD