It's funny how some people end up very well-known to a lot of different people, but the reasons for their fame vary depending on who you talk to. For instance, to some people, Michael Jackson was an enormously talented musician with a lot of great hits. To others, he was the weird dude who got accused of doing bad things with kids. And to others, he was just that guy who died last year.
I thought about this phenomenon earlier today when learning about the death of Merlin Olsen. I never saw Olsen play football. I can't even say for certain I've even watched film footage of the guy. And yet, I know who he was, because of one single commercial, and something my mother told me that resonates to this day.
Olsen, who of course was a tough-as-nails player, made frequent commercial appearances in the 1980s for the florist FTD. It was a really interesting fit, because it showed a sensitive side to Olsen, while also conveying a message that no man is too tough to buy his woman flowers.
My mother was the first person to mention to me that Olsen was a former football player. And I still recall her telling me that there was a lesson to be learned there, that there's nothing wrong with being a sensitive person, even if people think you're supposed to be tough. I don't know why that lesson stuck with me exactly, but throughout my life I've always believed that the most courageous people are those who are not afraid to show a softer side, and that those who insist on acting tough every second of their life are full of baloney.
So, rest in peace, Mr. Olsen. I never saw you play football, but I will remember you well for what you taught me.
Comments