I love this tribute of sorts to one of the most joyful people ever to enter public life. I always find it odd how uncomfortable people are with death and the idea of the things left behind being sold. My mother was the the business manager of a large retirement home in SC practically my whole life growing up. There was every level of care offered from independent living to hospital care. My sister and I learned early on that death was a part of life. I still have a few things that former residents gave me as a child (and I'm 61!). Things can make us smile, remember, cry, laugh, and feel all the feels. But at the end of the day, stuff is just stuff and you can't take it with you. Someone else might as well buy it and give it another life. I suppose "things" have a cycle of life and death just like people.
Such a lovely article! So well researched and respectful. He certainly lived his life to the fullest and collected some beautiful and funky pieces… thanks for sharing this.
Aw, this was a very sweet tribute. He was part of the cultural landscape for so long!
I was thinking about Iris Apfel’s auction today, thinking how cool it would be to have something of hers. I would love my old things to be someone’s bonanza when I’m dead!
Did you bite on any of the groovy sculptures, Virginia?
Simmons' collection is nothing that I would want; yet, I agree with: "we leave behind a collection of who we were, tangible, physical representations of the lives we lived. The clothes we wore, the shoes we ran in, or worked in, or tripped and fell in."
Our estate sales (or, if we’re celebrities, our auctions) are like little museum exhibitions of the stuff we were made of. When we leave the earth, our estate sales and auctions are the What’s Left of our lives. I do want 'ashes to ashes', 'dust to dust'; as if I were never here, yet what to do with all the stuff before I am gone, since unsure how soon that would be...knowing, plans could be made to rid of it all so that no auction is needed.
Sorry for not making sense, I am down with depression and such issues that I can't be helped. Thanks for sharing.
I love this tribute of sorts to one of the most joyful people ever to enter public life. I always find it odd how uncomfortable people are with death and the idea of the things left behind being sold. My mother was the the business manager of a large retirement home in SC practically my whole life growing up. There was every level of care offered from independent living to hospital care. My sister and I learned early on that death was a part of life. I still have a few things that former residents gave me as a child (and I'm 61!). Things can make us smile, remember, cry, laugh, and feel all the feels. But at the end of the day, stuff is just stuff and you can't take it with you. Someone else might as well buy it and give it another life. I suppose "things" have a cycle of life and death just like people.
Love this Kari!
Such a lovely article! So well researched and respectful. He certainly lived his life to the fullest and collected some beautiful and funky pieces… thanks for sharing this.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for sharing! I was/am a fan of Richard Simmons …I remember “Sweating to The Oldies” ♥️
Such an inspiration!
What a beautiful tribute for a lovely man. I hope those who love him see your writing.
Thank you Christine! He seemed so wonderful!
Okay, I’m in. Why do I simultaneously hope I win and lose? (Biting nails!)
Tell me what you’re after!!
My Substack avatar provides a clue!
Almost included a pic of all of them in this letter but it was getting long. Good for you; good luck!
I’ve already been outbid, but I am excited for someone to score this! It was a fun experience.
And now you are a part of history!
I love this story. Thanks for sharing a bit of Simmons’ life with me.
He was wonderful!
Aw, this was a very sweet tribute. He was part of the cultural landscape for so long!
I was thinking about Iris Apfel’s auction today, thinking how cool it would be to have something of hers. I would love my old things to be someone’s bonanza when I’m dead!
Did you bite on any of the groovy sculptures, Virginia?
This was wonderful! We always need more silly Simmons types in the world!
Simmons' collection is nothing that I would want; yet, I agree with: "we leave behind a collection of who we were, tangible, physical representations of the lives we lived. The clothes we wore, the shoes we ran in, or worked in, or tripped and fell in."
Our estate sales (or, if we’re celebrities, our auctions) are like little museum exhibitions of the stuff we were made of. When we leave the earth, our estate sales and auctions are the What’s Left of our lives. I do want 'ashes to ashes', 'dust to dust'; as if I were never here, yet what to do with all the stuff before I am gone, since unsure how soon that would be...knowing, plans could be made to rid of it all so that no auction is needed.
Sorry for not making sense, I am down with depression and such issues that I can't be helped. Thanks for sharing.