TWICE THE TRAGEDY
Ireally don’t know where I’m going with all this.
Just saying. But I’ve been thinking about the recent suicides of CNN travel host Anthony Bour
dain and fashion designer Kate Spade, who both left young daughters behind.
Two people who made it to the front door of their careers, yet chose a tragic, backdoor exit by hanging themselves. I didn’t know either of them. An admirer of Kate Spade goods, her line was not mine.
A fan of Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” travel show, his show was mine.
As a traveler, the accidental chef ’s irreverently, reverent way of looking at the world was unique.
But there did come a time when I did not buy the casual way Bourdain talked about his drug/ heroin use in the past as an admired rite of passage.
In recent years, it seemed to me Bourdain was becoming the truest “unknown” part of his show. Strangely, I began to worry about him. Had the celebratory part of each exotic meal become a mega booze fest?
Was divorce, travel and distance from his beloved daughter the result of his gaunt appearance?
Well, it certainly was no business of mine, but Bourdain did seem thinner and more grizzled than his 61 years suggested.
Years ago, a Chicago journalist’s elderly, confused father — unable to get a handle on where he was being taken on a family trip — said: “Well, I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m sure I’m going somewhere.” I used to laugh at that vignette. I don’t anymore.
Check, please . . .
Trump, table for two? Nope.
† Translation: The culinary and entertainment world mourned the death of chef and author Anthony Bourdain on Friday, including condolences from President Donald Trump — whom Bourdain openly despised.
† Backshot: Bourdain in 2016 told entertainment news website The Wrap that he refused to ever share a meal with the Donald. “Absolutely f--- ing not,” Bourdain said. “I’ve been a New Yorker most of my life. We know him well here. We’ve watched how he does business and we’ve watched him say things and then we’ve seen whether or not he did those things. We have seen how he treats the people he does business with.
“I would give the same answer that I would have given 10 years ago, when he was just as loathsome.” Royal return . . .
Back, at last.
Prince Harry hosted a charity gala at Kensington Palace late this week, but he was minus wife Meghan.
Not to worry. Queen Elizabeth takes the newlywed on her first royal tour June 14.
Sneedlings . . .
Saturday’s birthdays: Johnny Depp, 55; Laurie Hernandez, 18; and Natalie Portman, 37. . . . Sunday’s birthdays: Kate Upton, 26; Sasha Obama, 17; and Prince Philip, 97.