Behind the Big Blanket Super Picnic

By Caleb Matheson

After finishing architecture school, I felt empty. The close-knit community I was part of for five years just evaporated, and I couldn't understand how people lived so isolated, especially in a place like Houston where everyone has cars and chance interactions are rare.

The feeling of isolation intensified during the pandemic. However, a turning point came when my friend, Imhotep, invited me to a picnic in the park while he was in town from New York.

Surprisingly, a dozen random people joined. It sounds corny, but during that picnic, everything clicked, and I felt the deep connection I had been longing for.

It later occurred to me that what happened that day at the park could be shared with more people if only we had a bigger blanket.

So, I called Imhotep in New York and explained this stupid idea about bringing Houston together with a giant blanket. Imhotep was immediately supportive, basically telling me I had to do it and he was going to fly out to see it come together.

In early 2023, I made an order for 28 king-size gingham plaid blankets. On March 17, everything changed.

About two weeks before the first picnic, I was on the way to visit Imhotep in New York. While I was in an Uber on the way to the airport, I saw an Instagram story that Imhotep’s sister had posted. She said, “My brother just passed. I’ll never be the same.” The second I read the story, a call came in from a close friend. I answered the phone, “Is that real???” My friend, crying, replied, “Yes dude!!!” I immediately went numb. I got to the airport and wandered around dazed for half an hour before mustering the consciousness to call an Uber and head home. On the way, I called all my close friends and told them the bad news. Yet, I never shed a tear. I felt like my soul had been stolen from my body. I had been so excited to catch up with Imhotep, tell him about this amazing girl I had met at the park, and hear all about his life in New York.

I moved the picnic back indefinitely, as we went to the funeral, and collectively mourned the loss. I contemplated canceling the thing entirely, but I slowly realized that Imhotep would want me to follow through with the picnic.

We had our first picnic on Earth Day. All my friends came together and helped so much. From connecting the blankets and taking badass promotional pictures, to cooking all kinds of food and even teaching me how to sew after sewing 90% of the blankets themselves, my friends did everything.

learned that good friends are truly priceless. The first picnic was awesome. There was barely any room left on this big ass blanket. People were meeting each other and having a great time. It couldn’t have gone any better.

Although a part of me left with Imhotep, the picnic community he inspired continues to bring people together. Imhotep’s legacy of fellowship and wholesomeness lives on through the Big Blanket Super Picnic.

- Caleb

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