For me jaredgrrl’s tumblr is like the mecca of Jared homage. Her graphics are just breathtaking and her subject? Unparalleled.
I’ve now had the privilege of meeting Jared at two cons, Toronto and Jus In Bello where I got to talk to him in his Meet and Greets. People who have watched the show as casual fans and don’t follow the J’s careers in particular don’t quite grasp what it is about Jared that draws people in.
I took a friend who claimed herself to be a Dean girl (and she still is) and she met Jared face to face in an autograph session. She assumed that my love for Sam (I have just as much love for Dean too but Sam has always had a special spot in my heart) was what prompted me to feel a stronger pull towards Jared than Jensen.
Jared as Sam Winchester on TV is an attractive and appealing character - often outshined in the aesthetics department by Dean partly because of the way the characters are written and partly because Jensen is considered the more all round classically handsome guy, and he totally is, very perfectly handsome. Jared’s looks are a little more unusual, not quite the conventional type of handsome. He has the distinctive eye shape and a prominent kind of facial structure with high cheek bones. Also Sam’s hair is particularly styled, unusually long and floppy and the makeup applied is significantly altering.
My friend met Jared face to face at Jus In Bello and came out with a revelation and confession - up close, in his natural state, no styled hair or make up on, Jared Padalecki is one absolutely stunningly breathtakingly attractive man. She didn’t quite see what I was on about until that moment when she looked into his face. When she did I have to admit - one of the many highlights of that con for me.
But looks alone do not a man make. Not for me anyway. Jared’s appeal lies so much intertwined with who he is, his personality, his attitude towards life, his gregarious and generous nature that is never, not once a front that he puts on, you cannot help but feel drawn to this man because his very presence makes you smile one of the biggest smiles that has ever graced your face and much like he has mentioned - if your body is happy and your face is smiling well then it follows mentally - your entire cerebral and visceral being is happy. Jared has the same affect on people that the happy pills prescribed by psychologists do. He is a catalyst for emotional wellbeing and that is a rare, RARE characteristic in a human being. Jared is so refreshingly open as well - let me clarify, I don’t know Jared and I never will, just because I’ve met him and had conversations with him this does not mean I know him. I don’t have the right to know him same as he doesn’t have the right to know me - we don’t move in the same circles, our lives’ situations would not create that scenario naturally. I could rattle off probably dozens of little facts and anecdotes about him that I’ve picked up over the years - but in no way would I ever claim that I know him.
And whilst Jared is definitely more open and giving of his personal life than Jensen it bugs me no end when people feel that this is him giving permission for people to feel entitled about his private life. What we see of Jared at cons and in interviews is definitely him being honest and frank, not any kind of face or front he is putting on but we still don’t know him on any kind of personal level and I’m grateful for that. It’s a professional and dignified way to conduct himself. Good on him for not curtailing to the demands of obnoxious fans to see photos of Thomas. It’s sad that one got leaked and I felt for him, this is his son and from what we’ve seen of Jared I probably cannot even begin to fathom that level of protectiveness he feels towards his son’s privacy. I have the utmost respect for all of his decisions - finding a balance in this industry is a tricky process and I think Jared has walked that line remarkably well and yet still shares so much with his fans that we should be feeling grateful. This is his job and he doesn’t have to share what he has with us but he chooses to do so, not because he believes he’s “throwing us a bone” but because it is simply in his nature to be generous and sharing and open.
It’s this natural effusiveness he has, plus his very clear moral standards, his natural curiosity, his quick intelligence, his fascination for learning, for new places and absorbing new information like a sponge, his affinity for reading, his sense of humour and his very VERY obvious compassion and empathy for others that makes Jared who he is and it’s incredibly hard to not feel even a little bit drawn to it like a flower folding out for the sun. He has this warmth and when you are near him it feels like you are ensconced in it. When you ask Jared a question (irrespective of how ridiculous or repetitive or incomprehensible it might seem) he unfailingly gives you and that question his absolutely full attention and efforts, to give an answer that not only shows the questioner full respect but that also articulates those thousand miles a minute thoughts running round his brain. I have the sneaking suspicion that Jared, unlike a lot of males, when asked What are you thinking about? would launch into a 20 minute monologue that encompasses at least 12 different subjects. I get the feeling his brain (much like his body) is always on the go. To be honest I could easily sit there and listen to him just talk stream of consciousness style ALL day.
So this is my We Love Jared Padalecki post. If I ever happened to come across his Mum and Dad I would definitely be saying something to them along the lines of:
“Mr and Mrs Padalecki? I’d like to congratulate you both….you’ve both raised an amazing son and the world is a much brighter place for his presence in it. Thankyou.”
And they would say “You’re welcome” because that’s what Padaleckis do.
I leave you with one little JIB Jared story, it’s the last half hour of what has been a mammoth session of autographing for Jared (he doesn’t rush people, likes to share words with EVERYONE) and one girl walks up, her eyes shining and says in a tremulous barely heard voice:
“Mr Padalecki….thankyou for being so amazing.”
Jared looks at her, somewhat sleep deprived and jet lagged, with a tired smile on his face and says:
“You’re welcome.”
And then he does a double take as he realises what he just said and all of a sudden he’s so embarrassed and flustered, apologising. He jumps up and tells the other guys signing what he just did. Jensen and Co get some mileage out of that one and Jared grins big about it because he doesn’t care how he makes people happy even if it’s at his expense!
