I was unable to post this when Mr. Borgnine left this world and in retrospect, that was probably for the best. I am far too honest with my thoughts as is. To have my emotions clouding my reason... Well, I would have shared way too much about myself and that's something that just won't do. I am far too private a person for that sort of thing. What I will say is this. Mr. Borgnine was a grand actor. He played a part in some truly wonderful and important films and more importantly to me, several of my all time favorites. Movies that were there for me when no one else was. He was charming and witty and I loved hearing him tell stories of his life both in and out of the movies. He had a courage and honesty that comes from age, having lived life well. He owed his mistakes and talked about what he learned from them.
When we talk privately, seeing me in my Grey Warden costume, he asked "Are you an actor?" I answered as honestly as I could that while I was of a sort, I wasn't one like himself. Not even close to it. He just smiled at me and said, "You have a look for it kid". There are few time in my life that I have ever been at a loss for words but this was certainly one of them. We talked for a few moments more. Mostly about some of his movies. Those that meant the most to me and were not mentioned at his panels. He seemed pleasantly surprised at that and beaming, told me little tidbits about a couple of them. Very quietly in fact, as if we were two schoolboy plotting in the back of the classroom. He asked me a couple questions about my costume and seemed most impressed to find out that I made it myself and complimented me for my worksmanship. Sadly, my time with him had past but that fact that I had that time at all, I treasure now most greatly and will do so till I too am forced to leave this world. Thanking him then or now just doesn't seem nearly enough to express that gratitude I have in my heart for that moment. You are and ever will be missed good sir.
