Fayetteville, AR - Thursday, May 23, 2013
Man: Are you in line for tickets to the Norman Rockwell exhibit?
Jacob looks at his watch and sees that it is 1:20. "Yes," he says, backing into a plan. "That is what we are planning."
The special Norman Rockwell exhibit is closing this weekend at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. On the one hand, we're driving right by there anyway on our way to Kansas City. On the other hand, our weekly budget just lost about two decimals and since this is a special exhibit there IS an admission fee. But we're off to see America, and a gallery of Rockwell originals is five miles and 24 bucks away. Sold.
Friends and family have warned us to expect crowds. These are in evidence before we even park: it's 1:00pm on a Thursday and the overflow lot is, well, overflowing. We have to park about as close to the entrance as possible and hoof it across the grounds.
The lobby is a sea of people, within which are two lines, one for tickets to the Rockwell exhibit, and a longer one stretching around the corner to the exhibit itself. Jacob hops into the former, and Leighann goes looking for a restroom.
As he stands in line, with people all around him, an elderly man singles Jacob out.
Man: Are you in line for tickets to the Norman Rockwell exhibit?
Jacob: Yes.
Man: How many are in your party?
Jacob: Just my wife and I.
Man: And are you buying tickets for 1:30?
Jacob looks at his watch and sees that it is 1:20. "Yes," he says, backing into a plan. "That is what we are planning."
The man flips two tickets from a stack in his hand. "I've got extras if you want them," and holds them out.
When Leighann returns she sees Jacob's giddy smile, reserved for great beer and the unexpected kindness of strangers, and he tells her what happened.
The gallery is awesome. Norman Rockwell's paintings capture something photographs cannot, an idea (and ideal) of America that is heart-warming and haunting. Looking at his work, Jacob feels nostalgic for times he never lived through.
When we wander back out, we make one last pit stop before our hike back to the car. As Leighann approaches the restroom door an elderly lady walks slowly up behind her. Leighann holds the door and the lady says, "Thank you! Everywhere I go, angels appear and help."
We can relate.
We can relate.
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