Re: Evel Knievel

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Evel Knievel

December 3, 2007 My friend Evel Knievel died this past week. I had called him just 2 weeks ago. He sounded good and we spoke about how he was doing, Thanksgiving football games, things here in Thailand & how great they were going for us and what he was doing for the holidays. Although it came as no surprise when I heard the news, his health had been in decline for a while, I'm truly saddened by this happening and am feeling the loss... however, as crazy as it sounds I feel blessed, as my life was truly enhanced for having known him. You may not be aware of it, but he was the one who was largely responsible for giving me the courage to pursue my lifelong dream... to take a chance, pack it all in and move here to Thailand. People find their inspirations and courage in diverse and interesting ways along this bumpy road of life, sometimes through religion... but I guess you could say that instead of finding religion, I found Evel Knievel. Evel wasn't just a celebrity, by popular opinion he was elevated to the elite group of American icons, like Charles Lindbergh, Louis Armstrong, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe or Babe Ruth. Some of his personal effects were already in the Smithsonian! In the course of the first few days of our acquaintance, I realized that I was in the company of a person who'd seen and done it all. Not many had the opportunity to spend 5 minutes with such a man, let alone share an afternoon or even days hanging out together. Hell... we even wound up going to a titty-bar together one night.. I'll save that story for another time. But being put in such a rare situation, I knew that I wouldn't let an opportunity like that go by without garnering some bit of information, insight or at least a great story first hand from a guy who'd been around the Horn the wrong way. So I asked him to describe for me, if he even could, what it was like the moment he rode out into Wembley Stadium prior to jumping 13 double-decker busses; unfortunately, one stunt in which he would not emerge victorious. I mean, what was it like to appear before that heaving throng of people, like a Roman Gladiator, not knowing if you were even going to be alive in 15 minutes! It had to be more than just a "rush" riding out there to 100,000 cheering people, half of whom I'm sure were there hoping to see him bite the dust... After posing the question, with barely time for a hiccup he replied, "You know what I was doing a half hour before taking that jump?". "What?" I asked. "Taking a nap" he cooly replied. "Taking a nap? Taking a nap!! How the hell could you be taking a nap?" I asked. "How could you sleep? Weren't you scared?". "Of course I was scared!... I was so scared I was shaking in my boots... but that's what makes me a Daredevil. If you're not scared you're just plain fucking stupid". My first thought was to say "But wouldn't you be stupid to even attempt..." never-mind. I knew better than to insinuate such a thing so I kept my mouth shut. "And I knew I wasn't going to make that one", meaning he had a hunch he wouldn't succeed the jump. "But you did it anyway!... Why???". "Because I had to." he said matter-of-factly. "I had to follow my heart. And my heart was telling me to do it. I had no choice. Let me tell you something Sean..." he said staring me square in the face with his piercing blue eyes from not 2 feet away and shaking his index finger, "It is far better for you to FACE YOUR FEAR, follow your heart and be scarred by failure, then it is to live in the shadow of life... as most do, never having tasted the sweetness of success, as they have neither the guts or the brains to do so... So which are you?" I went home that night with those words ringing in my head, taunting me for not doing what I have always dreamed of doing. It was at that moment that I realized how 100% dead on he was. That if I didn't do what was nestled deep within me, then I would be failing myself. It was then that I decided to do what it was that was calling me all those years. It was time to just DO IT! Damn the consequences... just GET OFF MY ASS AND DO IT!!! The next day when he had a moment and were sitting & talking again. I told him that what he'd said the day before had a profound impact & that I'd been thinking about it all night. He continued then "So what's in your heart?" I told him that I wanted to move to Thailand and open an art gallery/woodcarving shop. "A wood carving shop in Thailand huh?... them're some strong people". "How do you know that?" I asked. "I KNOW! They've never been colonized... they stand on their own.... Strong people." he snapped back. "So Thailand eh? Do you know anyone there? What, you have a gal or something over there?". "Yeah, there's a gal, but I've been dreaming of this for decades now anyway". "Does she love you?" he came back with, seeming to be interested more in the love aspect of it all. "Well, she says she does & I believe her". "Then it's alright" he said immediately. I said "So you're telling me to do this? You're giving me your blessing?" "If you don't do it then you're a pussy and don't deserve anything!" he said. It was that moment that I knew my destiny would be realized... thanks to this foul-mouthed, surly, grit of a legend. And that even if I were to be "scarred by failure", then it still would have all been worth it... because I had faced my fear and followed my heart. Evel was a real inspiration and I feel privileged to have been able to call him my friend. He opened my eyes and set me on a path for this wonderful change in my life. The last time I saw him, I thanked him for giving me the confidence, courage and the kick in the ass to move over here and get this new chapter of my life going. I told him I was forever indebted to him and thanked him from the bottom of my heart. "Sean," he said, "that's about the greatest compliment anyone's ever paid me". He gave me pride in myself... and with his words as my guide, I made my own "jump" to which I can say I've had very happy landings. So I raise my glass to my pal Evel Knievel, and I hope you all do the same... to the man who served as my ultimate inspiration to get over here, who gave me the guts to find glory & become a winner... but most of all, to follow my heart and to live the dream I've had for decades... and so far it's been a wonderful dream. And advice which we all should take take to heart and use as the springboard to make our own personal jumps... cause if we don't, then we're "just plain stupid"... just ask Evel Knievel. RIP EK I miss you all but life is great, Sean