Monday, November 12, 2012

Happy Birthday Neil Young!

Nov. 12, 2012

Dear Mr. Young

The year was 1979 and it was a Sunday night. I was a college student and had gone home to southern California for a weekend with friends. We were on our way back to school and took turns driving my friend, Danny's tiny little "first generation" Honda Civic. You remember them, Neil. May I call you Neil? Those Honda Civics were little and cute. They got great gas mileage and even though they had a back seat, there really wasn't room for more than 2 adults.

Anyway there were 3 of us going back to college that weekend and we decided to drive through the night and make it a "marathon road trip." We all had classes the next morning. Probably not the smartest idea...

It was dark and the night was clear. There were very few drivers on the highway that night. The music we were listening to and singing along with were cassette tapes of Neil Young albums, "Harvest," "Comes A Time" and "After The Goldrush." We were huge fans!

Everything was so peaceful and serene. I was asleep in the passenger side with the seat reclined. Another friend was comfortably asleep in the back. Danny was taking his turn at the wheel and he, too, was comfortably asleep!

I remember hearing a bang! It woke me up with a start! We had hit a reflector post and Danny lost control of the little Civic. We started fish-tailing and then the car went off the highway into a ditch. Next it rolled and rolled. We were screaming. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Finally the car was right side up and smashed. Everything had stopped spinning but I remember I head hadn't. It was eerily quiet except for the sound of the Neil Young cassette tapes still playing.

We survived the accident, Neil. Miraculously we walked away with just minor cuts and bruises. I was thankful that we remembered to wear our seat belts. (I also remember how upset I was that the brand new pair of white jeans I was wearing had blood all over them. Like that was soooo important! Hey, I was 19!)

Every time I hear the music from those albums, Neil...I'm transported back to that night. I know it sounds like I'm sharing a frightful memory because of the accident. But looking back I'm reminded how lucky my friends and I were. Furthermore, your music also takes me back to the *good* memories of those years. It was simpler time in my life...happy, carefree years.

Thank you for your music and the memories. You said it: "Hey, hey, my, my, rock and roll will never die." ...and I know your music won't either. Happy 67th Birthday!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Leonardo DiCaprio

Nov. 11, 2012

Happy Birthday Leonardo Cappuccino!

That's what my kids used to call you. Loved you in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and a not-so-well-known film "Marvin's Room." As you blew out the 38 candles on your cake today, I hope you felt like the "king of the world!" (I know, I know...couldn't help myself!)
Regards, Mrs Love

PS. Looking forward to "The Great Gatsby"...however I don't know how you'll do a better job than Robert Redford! We'll just have to see.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Happy Birthday Burt Lancaster! You will not be forgotten!



November 2, 2012
Dear Mr. Lancaster,
Today you would have celebrated your 99th birthday.  Instead you left us in 1994 just before your 81st birthday.  I know you’re probably most famous for the “beach scene” with Deborah Kerr in 1953’s “From Here to Eternity.” And what a scene it was!  However, I want to thank you for one of your last, and perhaps not so famous, roles.  In 1989’s “Field of Dreams” you portrayed Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham.  Thank you, thank you for playing that character!  No one else could’ve done it better!
Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham:  “We just don’t recognize life’s most significant moments while they’re happening.  Back then I thought, ‘Well, there’ll be other days.’  I didn’t realize that that was the only day.”
And I can’t forget one of my favorite lines…you even said it as you disappeared into the corn field:  “I’d best be getting home. Alicia will think I’ve got a girlfriend.”
Such beautiful lines from such a beautiful film and delivered as only you could!
You said once: “We’re all forgotten soon or later.  But not films.  That’s all the memorial we should need or hope for.”  Thank you for all your films and beautiful work, Mr. Lancaster.  They are a great memorial to you…and you will not be forgotten.
Regards, Mrs Love