I want to thank Anthony Bourdain for helping me be the person I am today.
I may not be a great or even good person, but I have the courage to be true to myself and explore what I think is my path in this life. Tony helped give me that courage as I watched his shows throughout the years, often on airplanes, flying to a new destination.
I saw him venture in to the raw underbelly of the world, explain it, find its positive aspects and convey that world to me. I saw how he expressed that world transform from a simple video narrative into truly beautiful cinematic art. He could portray a simple place with seemingly simple people and food as something beautiful. Something I wanted. I always have him with me when I explore the dark, off-the-beaten-path corners of the world. His presence gives me the courage to do things and see things that I normally would not even contemplate.
I always assumed that I would run into him in Livingston, Montana, Beirut, Lebanon, or in a back alley in Tokyo. I never did. I'm really jealous that some of you posting in this thread got to share a cigarette or a drink with him. I'm pretty shook up that I'll never have that chance.
Tony wasn't just about food and travel. His mission was far greater. He wanted to inspire and educate, and help people broaden their existence through greater understanding of people that are different than yourself. He inspired me to drag my wife and son around the world, to show them everything that is out there, so we could be nicer to each other, and more understanding and empathetic in our daily lives. More tolerant.
I owe him a great deal.
I'm extremely happy to see the outpouring of love, gratitude and respect from people all over the planet.
I don't even really like food. All I ever wanted is a baguette and some fromage.
Goodbye, Mr. Bourdain, you will be missed.
