The above picture I saw one blustery evening whilst sitting at school browsing for Muhammad Ali auto's was found on ebay sellers AACS Autographs, (A Universal Autograph Collectors Club Registered Dealer)
It was signed a messy scribble H E A T H in blue marker pen (10X8 i think) It must have been End of December, early January...
I didn't think much of it as it was Heath in a new role that no one had really heard about. A joker that looked nothing like the joker we all use to know(nicholson)
and with the auction at $29.99US i figured nah ill come back to get it at a later date, wont be going anywhere fast... Keep my money in my pocket...
And so I kept on going, didnt even know the release date or if the movie ever was even going to be a hit. I went home and told my mum how our local boy was going to play such an iconic character, she just said 'yeah, great'.
It stayed in my mind for a while coming back every now and again, although with the lack of info on such a new movie made me not want to rush into getting it.
Come January 22, I was working on a tree farm with my sis nearby when i heard the news all over the radio and television that Heath had just passed under mysterious circumstances. I could not believe it. Not at all. I had just been smacked in the face through hesitation and doubt.
That day I rushed home to the net to go back to the store in hope of no one finding it, but it had been removed by the sellers. A few days later reappearing for $999.00US starting bid.
You can imagine how I felt, don't need to say anymore.
It sucked, an absolute legend of mine had passed away and the auto I was to buy jumped from 30 bucks to 1000...