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| Long Island Center for Independent Living, Inc.: Disability + Knowledge = Power 3601 Hempstead Turnpike, Suite 208 & 500, Levittown, NY 11756 Tel: 516-796-0144 TTY: 516-796-0135 Fax: 516-520-1247 en Español: 516-796-6176 E-mail: licil@aol.com LICIL, Inc. 2007 |
Culture Corner |
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| Culture Corner Archives March 2009 April 2009 May-June 2009 |
| Culture Corner- July 2009
By Donna Sue Rubin “ It seems to me you lived your life Like a candle in the in the wind, Never knowing who to cling to When the rain set in.” The month that I lost my Mother, we were watching a DVD of The Deer Hunter and I was whining about the fact that one of my favorite actors, John Cazale, died so young with so much left undone, and what a tragedy I thought it was. “Oh,” said my mom, “ It is tragic, to be sure, for those who knew and loved him, but you’re wrong about the rest of it. John Cazale, the artist, left nothing undone. He had no time to procrastinate and he probably knew it, subconsciously, from the day he was born.” She cited his filmography, short and meaningful; The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather-Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Deer Hunter. “Don’t you see,” she continued, “Future generations will know John Cazale for the same reason that you know James Dean (East of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause, Giant) and Mozart. They did not have time to fail.” Mother believed that artists were like trees and plants in a garden. There are those, like Mr. Cazale, who bloom only for a short time, but the flower is so fragrant, the fruit so sweet, that they live in our memories forever. Then there are perennials, like Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones who bloom from year to year, sometimes magnificently, sometimes not, but the tree grows stronger and more beautiful with each harvest. The last to come are the late bloomers, like Grandma Moses, Olympia Dukakis and James Michener, (for most of his career); surprising and equally unforgettable. I thought about that conversation, often, the week Michael Jackson died, as I sifted through the media madness fraught with rumor, half truths, worship and vilification. Not being an ostrich, I am fully aware of the constant controversy that surrounded his life. But, this is the “Culture Corner” where we meet to talk about talent, and, in the department, Michael Jackson was a “thriller.” Surely he must have been what Jerome Robbins envisioned all those years ago, while attaching the wires to Mary Martin so that she could fly through the theatre onto our television screens shouting, “Think lovely thoughts, Michael, much lovelier thoughts!” One can imagine little Michael Jackson watching the annual telecast of Peter Pan, applauding loudly to keep “Tinkerbell” alive with thoughts like “Where is love, I’ll be there.” But it boggles the mind to wonder what ecstatic pondering produced the “Motown Moon-Walk!” That is how I want to remember him; Defying gravity, without the benefit of wires and special effects, quickening my heart, blowing my mind, freeing my soul, disabling my disability, teaching me to fly again, as Mary Martin did when I was a little girl, this time, with a strong helping hand in a sequin glove. I would have been his “Wendy” forever, this lost boy who became king, then paid a king’s ransom in pain and pain-killers to keep my dream alive. In the end he flew off to “Never-Never-Land” without me, leaving behind the shadow of his legend and lovely thoughts. The loveliest kept me going the week my Mother died I played it over and over and the neighbors never complained, not once: “You are not alone. I am there with you.” For a little while the brightest bloom in the garden fill our senses with joy, our souls with beauty. But, these blooms are fragile, and all too soon we have to say farewell to Michael Jackson (1958-2009), Kurt Cobain (1967-94), Freddie Mercury (1946-91), Janice Joplin (1943-76), Jimi Hendrix (1942-70), Sam Cooke (1931-64), Buddy Holly (1936-64), Ritchie Valens (1941-59), Rick Nelson (1940-85), Hank Williams (1923-50), Patsy Cline (1932-63), Elvis Presley (1935-77), Bobby Darren (1936-73), John Lennon (1940-80), George Harrison (1943-2001), Jim Morrison (1943-71), Marvin Gaye (1939-84), Andy Gibbs (1958-88), Dan Fogelberg (1951-2007), Bobby Hatfield (1940-2003), Jim Croce (1943-73), Harry Chapin (1942-81), John Denver (1943-97), Luther Vandross (1951-2005), Laura Branigan (1957-2000), Selena (1971-95), Billie Holiday (1915-59), Edith Piaf (1915-63), Judy Garland (1922-69), Maria Callas (1923-77), George Gershwin (1898-1937), Wolfang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91), Brandon de Wilde (1972-72), River Phoenix (1970-93), Heath Ledger (1979-2008), Christopher Reeve (1952-2004), Montgomery Clift (1920-66), Judy Holliday (1922-65), Kay Kendall (1926-59), Robert Shaw (1927-78), Mary Ure (1933-75), Rachel Roberts (1927-80), Diana Sands (1934-73), John Cazale (1936-78), Natasha Richardson (1963-2009), Gilda Radner (1946-89), John Belushi (1949-82), Phil Hartman (1948-98), Chris Farley (1964-97), John Candy (1950-94), John Barrymore (1882-1942), John Gilbert (1895-1936), Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957), Errol Flynn (1909-59), Tyrone Power (1913-58), Russ Columbo (1908-34), Carole Lombard (1908-42), Clarke Gable (1901-60), Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926), James Dean (1931-55) Lon Chaney Sr. (1883-1930), Jean Harlow (1911-37), and “Good-bye Norma Jean (Marilyn Monroe: 1923-62)!” Post-Script: I am deeply saddened by the death of Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009.) Years ago, I had the privilege of spending two evenings in her company. The first was by chance and the second, by her gracious invitation. She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. My thoughts are with Ryan O’neal, their son, family and friends. “Rest well, brave Angel.” Until next time, when you meet me at “The Corner” to celebrate the reopening of the LICIL Living Library, enjoy the marathon playing of the Michael Jackson’s music, and as you marvel at his talent, please be safe. Donna *Highly Recommended: The Music of Michal Jackson, The Films of John Cazale, ***The quote is from “Candle In the Wind.” Lyrics by Bernie Taupin. Music by Sir Elton John. |