You and me both! I grew up in Houston, and our last apartment was two blocks from The Menil. They had an amazing collection of Jim Dine's. We literally went every week, to look at art and to hang out at the bookstore. His drawings were part of the group of artists I admired, along with Giacometti, Jasper Johns, Joseph Cornell, Robert Rauschenberg, Magritte, Agnes Martin... so many! When I moved to Charlotte, I worked for an arts organization for a number of years. My first week I was handed a Rolodex full of prominent artists that I needed to call. I was in awe. I asked, "Do you know Jim Dine too?" The response? Yes, but sometimes it's best not to meet your heroes. Ah, but I still love his work.
