To Shirley

There wasn't a single day of my childhood that I didn't want to be Shirley Temple. (Except maybe the days I wanted to be Judy Garland.)

Growing up during that quaint time period (BC: Before Cable), I had PBS to entertain me after school and on the occasional weekend night. My local PBS station ran a classic movie every Saturday night, and I lived for the weeks the feature was a Shirley Temple film.

For my 5th Christmas, Santa brought me a Shirley Temple doll, and I have her to this day (sans panties and shoes, but still in her original white with red polka dot dress). She was a beloved playmate, always my favorite, never eclipsed.

The first set of movies I ever bought my daughter, once I was a grown up, was not about Disney princesses or fantasy animals come to life; it was a box set of Shirley Temple movies. My Lu loves Shirley too.

Rest in peace, Shirley. You will be missed. 

The Impossible Dream: RIP

My fave all time commercial. 

In honor of you, Andy.

RIP.

the eagle has flown.

 He uttered the words every 

American child can still recite,

with imagination and wonder, 

and eyes pressed high.

Fare thee well, Mr. Armstrong.

Safe flight.

for my mom..

She's the King's biggest fan.

love ya mom!

Remembering Sally Ride

I spent many a summer night in my childhood sleeping outside, looking up at the stars.

I wanted to be up there.  I wanted to be surrounded by the deep, vast, endless expanse of space.  It has never felt like an emptiness to me, or even something that needs to be filled.  

To me, it was adventure. And possibility.  

It was hope and dreams and fantasy and faith.  

And when Sally Ride made her first flight into space, 

I was watching.  

Source

I never really stopped looking up.  

Godspeed, Sally.

RIP, Andy.

I think if you're of my generation, you grew up wrapped in the simplicity, humor, and wisdom that was the Mayberry RFD. Every afternoon, 4 p.m.:  me, cookies, milk and Andy, Barney, Opie, Goober, Gomer and Aunt Bea.

Irreplaceable.

Thanks, Andy.

RIP: Nora Ephron

I was going to share my favorite scene from You've Got Mail, or Sleepless in Seattle, or When Harry Met Sally, or even, heck, Silkwood (a movie that stirred -in a preteen me- a decided distaste for injustice and a longing to do more, be more, leave my mark). 

Instead, though, I think the lady herself, funny as hell and holding a concert hall in the palm of her hand, is more fitting. 

Rest in peace, Nora.

Tragedy.

  "And I crashed down, and stumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn’t know my own strength"

I don't have a single childhood musical memory that doesn't include Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.  Her debut record was the first album I ever bought.
Peace go with you, Whitney.

R.I.P.

A lot of people think the blues is depressing

but that’s not the blues I’m singing. 

When I’m singing blues, I’m singing life. 

People that can’t stand to listen to the blues,

they’ve got to be phonies.

                                           --Etta James

Singing with the angels now.

                       

liz.

I personally think the phrase "movie star" was coined with Elizabeth Taylor in mind.  

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is probably my favorite movie from the 1950s.  And I'm not even a huge Tennessee Williams fan.  But, I've seen it a dozen times and will likely see it a dozen more at least, in large part to the luminescence of its stars.  

 Good grief, can you imagine standing in a room next to these two? 

Although I've been expecting the  news of her passing, it was still very sad.  Such a great beauty.

Really, was there ever anyone as beautiful??  And such a wonderful philanthropist too. 

 A life well lived.  Rest in Peace.

songs to remember.

When I was 11, I fell in love with a movie.  Mostly it was the score, but the sweet adventure story stole my heart.  The movie was High Road to China, and for years my parents were terrified because I so adamantly insisted I would one day fly WWI biplanes.

John Barry was the composer, and a few years later he wrote what I think is one of the most beautiful scores of all time, Out of Africa.  I have many John Barry scores on my playlist now.   It has always been music to simply...listen to.

John Barry

1933-2011

R.I.P.

don't you forget about me...

John Hughes has passed away. Where would I be without...

Sixteen Candles (my favorite!!!)

The Breakfast Club
(which Tina & I have seen a thousand times minimum)


Pretty in Pink (ditto)


Ferris Bueller's Day Off
(which I quote in class ALL the time, and get more shocked
every year when the number who "don't get it" increases.)

And let's not forget these Christmas classics which are must-see's (multiple times) at my house during the season:

Classic!


A Thanksgiving night ritual while we put up the tree.
My kids laugh hysterically EVERY time.

I do enjoy the original very much, but there's something
about this sweet remake that I love.

What a fabulous writer, director, producer...he was tuned in to MY life in the 80s, and the lives of every other kid I knew. A sad day indeed for the film community.

I'm back at school this week, so no sewing. But I did finish two skirts over the weekend I need to take photos of!! I tried this morning, but my camera batteries are dead. Grr. Maybe this weekend!