I wasn't going to say anything about this. In fact, I've gone back and forth about a hundred times with myself over it. Then I thought, with today being Alan's birthday, maybe it's a good way to celebrate him.
As some of you may know, there was recently an auction that took place a few months ago, and some of Alan's personal items were up for bid. It made me sad for him and for his close family and friends seeing his personal things be auctioned off. Things that he wrote himself, scripts that he brought to life or items that he was gifted when films were wrapped.
I had some money saved up at the time and decided to place a bid on an item just to see if maybe I could give one of Alan's things a safe home. Somewhere where I knew it would be loved and cherished for years to come instead of sold time and time again to people who are only after money. As the weeks passed I had completely forgotten about the bid I placed and was honestly expecting someone with far more money and interest than I to outbid me, but no one ever did. I guess it was just meant to be.
So, with that, Alan's personal crew jacket that he was gifted after filming Die Hard (1988) and the Die Hard Trilogy hat that he was given and signed are now safely with me. I have taken the time to properly display his jacket in a shadow box and it proudly hangs in my office. I'm still working on getting a proper case for the hat, but it's being safely kept away for the time being.
I've had the items for a couple of months now, but when I received them in the mail I opened them and took the time to just sit with them for a moment and admire their previous owner. I tried on the jacket and was filled with such gratitude that the heavens allowed me to become the next owner of such an important piece of film history.
I can only imagine the jacket was put away in his closet many years ago only to be looked at by him one more time just months before he died as he was going through his things (according to his diary, Alan went through his belongings shortly before he passed).
Alan, wherever you are, I hope you know that I will keep your things safe for as long as I can. Even though you clenched your jaw and nearly visibly rolled your eyes every time someone brought up Die Hard, it was still a part of your history. It's part of what changed your life and made you who we know you as still to this day. The fact that I own a piece of you, the very first gift you were given from your very first film, is enough to keep me inspired and connected to you for a very long time.
Happy 80th Birthday, Alan 💙
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