What I Learned From Kwai Chang Caine

A few months after I was born, a TV show called "Kung Fu" debuted.  David Carradine starred as Kwai Chang Caine - or "Caine" -  a Shaolin Monk who fled to America after killing a bad guy in China.  Thinking he's in the clear, he happens to run into bad guys in America and he goes all "Kung Fu" on them.

(Worst.  Description.  Ever.)

It only lasted for a few years, but I guess went into reruns because I remember watching it with my brothers.  (Who would then go all "Kung Fu" on me.)  

As a side note, it also inspired the Hanna Barbera cartoon "Hong Kong Phooey" and the song "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas.

Fast-forward quite a few years to 2001.  I was working in a gift shop at the Salt Lake International Airport.  David Carradine happened to wander into my shop.  Now, he wasn't the first celebrity to come into the shop.  A lot of celebs came to our store.  Some, you could tell, wanted to be recognized.  Others did not.

Carradine did not want to be recognized.

As he came up to buy a magazine from me, I acted like I knew who he was, but I didn't say anything about "Kung Fu" or any of his other work.  (Kill Bill had not been released yet.)  

One thing I noticed about him - and I'm saying this with an unblemished record of staunch heterosexuality - was that he looked fantastic.  I knew he had to be in his mid-60's at the time, but he looked so healthy and lean.  I don't think he had any fat on him.

A couple of weeks later, he came in again.  This time he let his guard down a bit because I think he realized that I wasn't going to make a big deal about him, even though he knew that I knew who he was.  We actually had a little conversation about why he was in Utah.  (He had a ranch in Sun Valley and our airport was the hub to fly into Sun Valley.)

Through the following months, he would come in about every two weeks and we would chat for a bit while he waited for his plane.  He opened up more and more with each chat, but I still didn't gush on about his work - though we did talk about it - and he seemed perfectly fine with that.

About the same time, our shops began to sell Krispy Kreme donuts.  We were told to ask each customer if they wanted to buy one.  As David made his bi-weekly pass through SLC International, I offered him a donut.

He smiled at me and said, "I don't eat that crap." 

Now, I have thought about that a lot in the passing years.  Here was a guy so dedicated to his health that he wouldn't even allow himself a donut.  

And obviously, it helped him.  David died about 4 years ago at the age of 72.  Had he not died accidentally, he would probably be celebrating his 77th this year with his family.

I realized from that exchange that sometimes we have to give up some things we want at the time, for that which we want ultimately.

Now, I'm not saying that I'm ready to give up donuts forever, but if giving up donuts means that I can live long enough to see my grandchildren, then that's an easy choice.  If it means celebrating my 50th Anniversary with my wife, hasta entonces donuts!

I hope that one day I may be able to look at someone offering me a donut, and say to them, "I don't eat that crap."

(NOTE: I realize that a few of you are ready to comment here or send me an email that will say something like, "It's okay to splurge on food once and awhile."  I don't argue that point.  What I am saying is that my life will not come to an end if I say "no" to a donut or two.  In fact, it may come to an end even sooner if I don't say "no" to a donut or two.)