Fare Thee Well, Amos

Most of you Amos Kennedy, Jr. fans are aware that Amos is packing up his letterpress shop in Gordo and moving his 13 presses to Detroit to set up his new shop: The Detroit Printing Plant. My heart is breaking. This state (Alabama) doesn't realize it yet but they're letting an icon slip thru their fingers. Oh, how I wish that his patrons and members of the art community –that we– had fought and begged him to stay. What's the saying? You don't know what you have until it's gone.

Yesterday, my daughter, son-in-law and I drove to Gordo to "hug his neck" (don't you love those old southern sayings?), one last time. He's been my hero and safety net for five years; he'll be my friend for life. Change is necessary. I get that. Usually, I can adjust with the best of them. But, this time, I'm having a VERY difficult time accepting Amos' move 726 miles away. It ain't next door. 

Oh, well. There's nothing more to say?  It's a sad day. Fare-thee-well my friend. 

Pic: The "humble negro printer" gazing, adoringly, at his friend one last time.