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Subject: "10,000 Tiles" A Repost, and a Reminder

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Username: KatFan49
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Posts:624

Katharine Addict
Location: Just outside the Capitol of the Free World

Member Since 7/8/2006

08/07/2007 10:12 AM	Alert
Some of you have already read this piece, posted originally back in December. I repost it now in the same spirit as when I originally wrote it, to remind myself and others of the real reason we're here. I wrote it because of all the speculation that was running rampant at the time about what Katharine could have done better in order to make herself more "successful". I wrote it because I was frustrated at the short term viewpoint that so many were expressing at the time. I wrote it because I realized that no one but Katharine understands what her dreams are, what she wants from life, and what exactly it is that makes her happy. I wrote it because as a fan, no matter how much effort I put into helping her success, I'm just along for the ride. It still holds true for me. I spend my time now celebrating when Katharine celebrates, and crying when she cries. I wouldn't have it any other way. It's what I, as a fan, can do. Oh, I spend plenty of time requesting her songs on the radio. I talk her up at every opportunity. I do what I can to share my excitement about this treasure I've found and want to share with everyone. But, it seems sometimes that there's entirely too much room for getting down, for visualizing failure, for trying to analyze what could have been done to make things turn out "differently" for our girl. It also seems to me that all of that analyzing and visualizing is based upon what we, as fans, expect or desire. Before we allow ourselves to get down, before we curse the powers that be, before we lose sight of why we're here, let's refresh ourselves. Let's celebrate what we have. Let's raise our voices and say "Thank you". Let's count our blessings for what we've been given. Take care, my friends. Don "10,000 Tiles" by KatFan49 It was a magnificent piece. A mosaic, and one of the most stunning works of contemporary art I have ever seen, and I've seen a lot. At first glance, it reminded me of one of those computer-generated posters you see, where Lincoln's face is composed of hundreds of pictures of credit cards. Fascinating, but nothing more than a gimmick - a program that uses a few images to create another, larger image. What I was seeing now was something completely different. Almost nine feet by eight feet, it was composed of thousands of one inch square tiles, each carefully hand-painted by the artist, depicting an event in their life, and arranged to form a landscape scene. While the ultimate image was in itself stunning, what my mind immediately focused on was the dedication of the artist in producing such a piece - composing, painting, choosing and rearranging the individual tiles until the final image emerged from the tiny crafted parts. I wasn't looking at a landscape, or a mosaic - I was looking at a life. And aren't our lives, when we look back upon them, simply many little images that, when put together, form the individual "me"? Some of these images were imposed upon us, and some were freely chosen. Our values, our career, our families, our purpose, our complete existence - really nothing more, and nothing less, than the sum of thousands of experiences. And, ultimately, no matter the source of the images, we - and we alone - are responsible for whether or not we choose to incorporate them into our being. I've learned a lot about myself while pondering that mosaic. And I now understand more about what makes me the person I am today. Most importantly, I understand better how it is not the final picture that is the experience, but the painting of the individual tiles. Why am I telling you this? And why am I posting it on a site dedicated to Katharine? Because I have seen lately many instances of folks questioning her choices in the tiles she is selecting for her mosaic - choices in style, in music, in single selection, in dress, in personal relationship. Not that there is anything wrong with questioning, there isn't. But too many of these questions have turned into abject criticism. And far too many criticisms offer no creative alternatives, instructive suggestions, or wise insight for a better choice. As an artist, I can understand the frustration of someone looking over your shoulder while working - making comments about the composition, the color choice, the brush, the thickness of the line - all without having a clue to what the final image mapped out in my head looks like. It's easy to criticize, it's easy to make suggestions, it's easy to say what you would do differently - as long as you're not the one doing. As long as it's not your mosaic. When I decided to become a fan of Katharine's, it was because I saw a young lady with good values, incredible talent and maturity beyond her years. I've seen many of the tiles she has already painted. There are some with incredible beauty. There are some that are tearfully sad. There are some that are almost black with despair and disappointment. This is as it should be. This is what it means to be human, the reward we receive and the price we pay for our short stay here. She'll have successes and she'll have failures. She'll make good choices and she'll make mistakes. She'll be the hero of some and a goat to others. She'll gain new fans and lose some old ones. And she'll do all of this because of the pictures she paints on her tiles. In addition to the tiles she has completed prior to my knowing of her, there are tiles for each week of her time on American Idol. There are tiles for the tour. There is a tile for her first single. There is a tile for each time she has made a public appearance and each magazine article. Big Sexy Hair has a tile of its own. There is a tile being painted even now that will depict her first album. New friends, new experiences, new joys and new sorrows - each will have a tile. I can rest assured knowing that I have done my part, as small as it is, in helping her picture meet her expectations. I voted week after week, so that I could see her yet again for another week. I have purchased her first single, and her second, and given away scores of them. I have told friends about this wonderful new talent that I have found. I will do my part to make her tiles as beautiful and joyous as possible. And I will do it for as long as I am able. She paints, and I watch. I trust her to do what is right for her. I have faith that she knows what her picture should look like. If she were to ask for my opinion, I might offer a color suggestion, or share my knowledge of just which brush would most easily produce the effect she was looking for. Until that moment, I will be content to sit back and watch, as she learns how to master the tools of her life. It is what a fan does. In the meantime, I have been busy painting my own tiles relating my experiences of Katharine to fit in with the thousands that make up my own life. That is what I, as a fan, can do - paint my own tiles. It is enough for me that my final picture will be the richer because of these. Katharine has an image in her mind of the final picture her life will depict when finally she arranges her tiles. I have no doubt that it will be a magnificent piece.

Katharine's summer is full of hope, full of potential, and promises to provide many bouquets to grace the home that I call my heart. www.myspace.com/katfan49 www.myspace.com/katfia www.myspace.com/katspack

Username: zzyzx
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Posts:2104

Katharine Addict
Location: Toronto, Canada

Member Since 9/23/2006

08/07/2007 2:34 PM	Alert
Thank you for the beautiful piece, Don. You speak for us all.

Username: Moms4Kat
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Posts:307

Katharine Addict
Location: Longmont, Colorado

Member Since 5/3/2006

08/07/2007 2:58 PM	Alert
Written as only a true artist who understands life, could write! Simply beautiful!!!

Username: Katcrazy2006
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Posts:549

Katharine Addict
Location: Columbia, SC

Member Since 6/13/2006

08/07/2007 3:03 PM	Alert
WOW!!! Absolutely beautiful and insightful! Don, you have a wonderful gift for writing and I thank you for sharing it with us! 10,000 Tiles - A great reminder for all of us!

Username: Minnie
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Posts:2366

Katharine Addict
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Member Since 7/14/2006

08/07/2007 8:49 PM	Alert
Don, I recently read your inspiring piece on your MySpace and I am so pleased to see you repost it here. Thank you for sharing your eloquent voice about Katharine. ...before we lose sight of why we're here, let's refresh ourselves. Let's celebrate what we have. Let's raise our voices and say "Thank you". Let's count our blessings for what we've been given.

We are definitely working together -- working on a record together. She sings so magnificently, it's just amazing -David Foster-

Username: DiehardKatfan
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Posts:1379

Katharine Addict
Location: Pennsylvania

Member Since 9/17/2006

08/08/2007 1:27 AM	Alert
Well for me it’s not a repost because I’ve never seen it before. Now that I have, I don’t know what to say. I am in so much awe from reading that incredible story (I call it a story because it’s “That” good.) So much deep thought and incredible wisdom portrayed. Never heard the steps a person takes in life, explained so perfectly. I fully understand what the tile metaphor means and you are absolutely right. Every time we do something, we are creating yet another tile of our life and when we all die, all of those wonderful tiles will always be remembered. It makes perfect sense. Not only does the "10,000" tiles describe Katharine's life and future but it describes everybody's life and their future. Your analytical thoughts send chills down my spine because they are so true. With knowledge like that, you should be writing books, you have “IT”. Well done sir, I am impressed. Just want to note: This is a great reminder for all of us fans especially for the ones who keep speculating that Kat isn't doing so well with sales lately. All she is doing is creating more tiles and with every new tile comes a new challenge to overcome and that within itself is another tile to add on to the number of great tiles Katharine has already made.

Username: Katcrazy2006
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Posts:549

Katharine Addict
Location: Columbia, SC

Member Since 6/13/2006

08/08/2007 2:09 AM	Alert
Well said, Diehardkatfan! I too have never heard the steps a person takes in life, explained so perfectly. You can read several of Don's writings on his My Space. Check it out: http://www.myspace.com/katfan49 Don - when you read this . . . check your email. You've got mail!

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Forums > All about Katharine > Katharine Chat > "10,000 Tiles" A Repost, and a Reminder

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