Uncle Charlie Arrives at L-Fest
Yesterday, the bulk of the Lebowski-fans descended on Louisville, and were soon seeking each other out by spotting hotel guests sipping White Russians or wearing fan T-shirts, and asking each other ‘You an Achiever?’
Friday’s festivities were limited to a double screening of The Big Lebowski and another Coen brothers film, Raising Arizona, so there was ample time to meet and greet in the hotel lobby and bar.
One group in particular caught my interest -- four men in their late twenties who drove eight hours from Kansas City to attend Lebowski Fest, after months of counting down the days on their ‘Gutterballs’ dry-erase board.
“We used to live together and we spent hours watching the movie over and over,” said one, Jeff Kinney. “We did a search for something Big Lebowski related once -- I don’t even remember what it was -- and that’s how we found out about Lebowskifest.”
He said he and his friends had waited three years to attend, but something always got in the way, until this year.
Their wait isn’t the most notable part of this group’s story, though. Traveling with them is a fifth Lebowski-fan – Jeff Kinney’s Uncle Charles, whose remains are carefully packed into an oversized Folgers coffee can -- Donny-style.
“He was a great guy, he loved the movie, so we decided to bring him along,” he explained, noting that not only was Charlie along for the ride, but also in costume -- the group entered the remains into the costume contest, to be held today. It’s the biggest thing that’s happened to Charlie since his death, Kinney said.
“We never could decide what to do with him,” he said. “We don’t plan on scattering the ashes here, or ever. He’s just along for the trip.”
