Happy Birthday Sean Astin, My "Cousin"

Feb. 25, 2011

Dear Sean Astin,

For so many years I would say you were my cousin. And my kids said you were their cousin. How did all this happen? My father, the ever-diligent genealogist discovered a link between our family (McCune-Midgley-Mackenzie) to your family (Astin-Midgley-Mackenzie). How exciting it was to watch Rudy and say, “Great job, cousin!” And then watch you portray the hobbit, Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings films. We’d tell our friends, “Our cousin is a hobbit!”

Even in 2009, just before my son was getting ready to go to “Middle Earth” (aka New Zealand), he was visiting Disneyland with his sisters and brother-in-laws. And who did they run into that day? No, not Mickey Mouse! You! How excited they were to tell you they were your cousins! Of course, you looked at them a little suspiciously but were kind enough to take a picture with them. Oh, it was a wonderful family story! The kind we wanted to hear about at every future family reunion, until the end of time.

But then everything changed. One day a few months ago I was reading about you on the interent and discovered that in 1994 you underwent DNA testing. It was revealed that John Astin was not really your biological father. Rock promoter, Michael Tell, whom your mother was married to briefly, was your biological father. I was happy to hear that you still consider John Astin to be your father, since he raised you. However, I was shocked! What? John Astin, the actor who portrayed Gomez Addams in the 60’s The Addams Family, was not your biological father? That’s who I am related to! Oh, Sean, what a sad, sad day it was to find out we are not really cousins.

Can we be “honorary cousins”? You are a wonderful actor, a fine human being; even one of the rare former child actors who doesn’t drink or do drugs. You’re married now, with three daughters. Dearest Sean, may I still call you “cousin?”

Happy 40^th Birthday

Regards, Your cousin, Mrs Love

PS. I am still your brother’s cousin…Mackenzie Astin. Unless another DNA test shows otherwise!

Happy Birthday George Harrison!



Feb. 24, 2011
Dear George Harrison,
I may be wishing you a Happy 68th Birthday a day too soon, since most of your life you celebrated your birthday on Feb 25th. It wasn’t until a family document was discovered, stating your birthday was actually Feb. 24th, 11:50pm. Wikipedia states Feb. 25th and the IMDb says it’s Feb. 24th. Oh well, it...’s the Internet. Who can you believe?
In most of your pictures you have a serious look. I think there should have more of you smiling. You had a great smile. And so along with this letter to you, I’ve posted my favorite picture of you.
One of my favorites of your songs was on the Beatles’Abbey Road album, “Here Comes the Sun.” It still never fails to make me smile. It was released in 1969 and although I was just a little kid back then, I was a huge Beatles fan. Whenever I hear that song, it takes me back to the years I would sleep with my little black transistor radio under my pillow each night. I would listen to radio stations that played Beatles music, along with other rock music of the time…all night long. Funny thing, I’m 50 now and do essentially the same thing, but now it’s with an iPod and earbuds in my ears…all night long.
You and Paul McCartney were classmates in England and became friends as you rode the same bus every day, carrying your first guitars. You played 26 musical instruments and once said: “I would rather be a musician than a rock star.” Paul McCartney described you as “my baby brother” and you passed away in his Los Angeles home in 2001.
A year after your passing, a tribute concert was held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, featuring your music, performed by many of your close friends, including Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. I like to believe that in some way you were able to hear it.
Yes, George, you were considered the youngest and shyest Beatle, but I think you just went about with your life and your beliefs and music, not drawing too much attention to yourself. You were one of the good people in this world. You were one that was taken from us too soon.
“Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right.”
Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Dakota Fanning!

Feb. 23, 2011

Dear Hannah,

That’s right. Your name is Hannah, not Dakota. I guess Hannah Fanning didn’t sound very “Hollywood” so now you go by Dakota Fanning. I guess it’s more hip. (and your actress sister, Elle, is really named Mary?)

You’re 17 today. Now you can (legally) go see all the rated-R movies that you’ve been in!

Now Hannah, or Dakota, or Ms Fanning, or whatever, you’re a child actress that I believe will transition into adult roles very well--like Jodie Foster or Leonardo DiCaprio. Please be good. Don’t disappoint me, dear. I don’t ever want to hear that you turned out like child actors like Lindsay Lohan or the late Gary Coleman. Grow up to be one of the “good” people in Hollywood. Or better yet, stay little and cute and never grow up at all!

Happy 17^th Birthday!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Steve Irwin!

Feb. 22, 2011

Today I’ve been sick, so I’m going to bed early. Today would have been Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin’s 49^th birthday. Crikey! So, I’d love to hear YOUR thoughts, memories, and quotes about him.

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Alan Rickman!

Feb. 21, 2011

Dear Alan Rickman,

Whenever I go to a movie and find out you’re in it I say: Ok, this is going to be good. Alan, you always make any movie infinitely better.

The first time I saw you was in “Die Hard,” where you played the German villain Hans Gruber.

And then I saw you in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” opposite Kevin Costner, as Sheriff of Nottingham.

“Locksley! I’m going cut your heart out with a spoon!”

“Why with a spoon, cousin? Why not with a sword or an axe or something?”

“Because it’s dull you twit, it’ll hurt more!”

(Perhaps you could’ve taught Kevin Costner to speak in a British accent. An American Robin Hood?)

Then I saw you in the Harry Potter movies as Serverus Snape, dark and mysterious, with an incredibly droll, dry wit.

In so many of your movies you have a kind of charisma that enables you to portray rather creepy, dark characters. However you have your gentle side too, like in “Love Actually, “Sense & Sensibility”, or even “Galaxy Quest.” (…Never give up, never surrender!)

I truly believe you are one of those individuals who is doing exactly what he was meant to do: be an actor. 

Happy 65^th Birthday!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Cindy Crawford!

Feb. 20, 2011

Dear Cindy Crawford,

I wondered if you were at the NBA All-Star game tonight at the Staples Center with your birthday buddies, Charles Barkley (48) and Rhianna (23). But most likely you were enjoying a quiet evening with your family.

You’re a supermodel, celebrity, entrepreneur, MTV host, and girl with the trademark mole just above your lip. Now Cindy, you’re not the only one with a trademark mole…or as it’s sometimes called, “beauty mark.” Marilyn Monroe had one. Paula Abdul has one, but she covers it with thick makeup. Natalie Portman has one. Angelina Jolie does too. Robert DeNiro has one, but I’m sorry I wouldn’t call it a “beauty mark.” On him, it’s just a mole. Even Martha Stewart has one. Sarah Jessica Parker had one, but has had it removed, so perhaps she not a beauty anymore. Enrique Iglesias had one, but eventually had his removed. And personally, I think it’s made him even MORE of a beauty!

Now, Cindy, even though I’m not a celebrity, I have one too. And I like to call it a “beauty mark” too!

You are a beautiful, smart woman and I’ve admired you for a long time. I even have one of your first exercise videos. I’ve actually watched it once, although watching it exhausted me! You look beautiful in it and I can see the exercises have worked very well for you.

Cindy, I haven’t purchased any of your skin care products I see on late night infomercials. However, if you can guarantee if I use your products, I’ll look just like you, then I will buy them!

Have a wonderful 45^th birthday!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Seal!

Feb. 19, 2011
Dear Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel,
Or may I just call you Seal, like everyone else? I hope you know you’re not the first celebrity who has chosen to use a one-word stage name. There’s Beck, Beyonce, Cher, Bjork, Fabio, Yanni, Shakira, Bono, Charo, Liberace, Pink, Coolio, Dido, Twiggy, Elvis (ok, maybe he didn’t drop his last name, but if you just say Elvis, everyone knows who that is.), Flea, Jewel, Madonna, Oprah (ok, another one who hasn’t dropped her last name, but everyone knows who Oprah is…is there even another?), Sting, Penn, Teller, Usher, and even Lassie. Have I forgotten anyone?
I admire you and your wife Heidi Klum. I think you are an awesome couple. I understand you renew your wedding vows every year. You’ve said: "Each year, Heidi and I get remarried. It's a great party, but for about an hour, we go off on our own down to a private beach. We sit there with the kids and read vows to each other as the sun sets. It's a very special moment to us."
Now I must tell you something that I hope you don’t take the wrong way. I was quite surprised when I first heard that you were married to Heidi Klum. You see, I think you look better with your wife at your side…as all husbands do. But you look exceptionally better!
Furthermore, Seal, please don’t ever do anything to disappoint me. I admire you and Heidi Klum so much and would very upset if I ever read you were not the decent and respectable man that you are today. Carry on, my friend. (May I call you friend? Well, I did anyway!)
Happy 48th Birthday!
Regards, Mrs Love