Happy Birthday Annette Bening!

May 29, 2011

Dear Annette Bening,

As they say—it’s all in the details.  I learned this watching you film the HBO film “Mrs. Harris.” It was 2003 and it was the first major motion picture my 16 year old daughter got to work on. I tagged along as her “stage mom.”

As you remember, “Mrs. Harris” was the film you portrayed Jean Harris, the private girls’ school headmistress who murdered famed “Scarsdale Diet” doctor, Dr. Herman Tarnower.  My daughter portrayed one of the students at the private girls’ school.

One of the scenes she worked on was on the lawn of the school.  The time period that day was the late 1970’s.  Walking onto the set, I felt like I was transported back in time. The cars in the parking lot, the school books the girls carried, the clothing the teachers wore, was all reminiscent of the late 1970’s—which I remember very well.

My daughter was to be playing lacrosse in the background of your scene. Your character, Mrs. Harris, was upset with someone who left orange peels on the grass. You were speaking to your secretary. Then you opened your handbag and put the orange peels in. By this time in the film, your character, Jean Harris, was clearly addicted to medications that Dr. Tarnower was administering to you.

As I sat off camera, watching the scenes being rehearsed and filmed, I was amazed at the careful attention to detail.  Near where I was sitting, there was a prop master peeling the oranges so the peels could be used in the scene.  Each time the scene was filmed a new set of  peels had to be placed carefully on the grass.   

More details were checked.  Everyone had a job to do. There was a rather eccentric costume designer upset with her workers for having one of the teachers carry the wrong purse.  Some of the wardrobe staff were measuring the knee socks my daughter.  They had to be exactly one  inch folded down…no more and no less.  I’d never seen anything like it. My daughter, wearing a darling private girls’ school uniform, had to have her sweater buttoned just so, and her hair pulled back just so.  No earrings, no lipstick, no tattoos, no highlights in her hair, etc.  So many rules about the details!

Now, may I be perfectly honest with you, Ms. Bening?  I can tell you that as a movie goer, I wouldn’t have noticed those details.  I remember watching that scene on HBO. All I watched was you, picking up the orange peels and placing them in your handbag.  Then, of course,  I looked behind you and there was my daughter.

I did get to cross paths with you one day on set, Ms. Bening. You were lovely. Our eyes met and you smiled at me.  Remember?  No?  Ok, that was a day they were filming the girls in an auditorium. And I was one of the many stage moms.  My daughter told me on the way home that day, how nice you were. She told me what a great actress you were. You made such an impression on my little 16 year old. You made an impression on me, as well.  I saw how hard everyone worked to make sure everything was perfect.

The whole experience of being on the set of “Mrs. Harris” changed the way I look at movies. I hope you had a very Happy 53^rd Birthday Saturday.

From a fan who now looks at the details!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Gladys Knight!

May 28, 2011

Dear Gladys,

I remember the first time I saw you perform live. It was at the 1999 BYU Women’s Conference in Provo, Utah. I attended it with my friend Nina. We heard you were to be the keynote speaker of the conference. You had just joined the Mormon Church a few years before. We knew who you were, of course.  You were a hugely popular celebrity and Grammy award winning singer.  You’re even known as the “Empress of Soul!”  However, I just couldn’t believe you were a converted Mormon.  I must admit I was a skeptic.  I knew you were an “entertainer” and so I was expecting to be “entertained.”

We were sitting in the Marriott Center at BYU which was filled to near capacity with 20,000 women.  Not only did you speak to the audience, but you also sang to us.  You sang some solos, but also with a choir of young women from Henderson, Nevada, where you live.  I remarked to my friend, “Those young girls weren’t even born when Gladys was singing with The Pips. They probably have no idea who she is!”

At the end of your address, you shared with us your conversion story. As I listened, I knew in my heart that we were not being “entertained.” I could feel it was a true conversion. It was real. I’ve never forgotten that feeling. It left a lasting impression on me.

The next time I saw you perform live was just a few months ago in Rancho Cucamonga, CA at a Mormon church. These days you travel and perform with the “Saints United Voices” choir and I discovered that one of my high school friends was a member of your choir. Colleen invited me and another high school friend to go to the performance. We had second row seats and enjoyed the music very much.  You also spoke to the audience, much like you had many years before at the BYU Women’s Conference. You shared your conversion story once again. You bore a profound testimony of your beliefs.  Again, I knew we were not being “entertained.” And again, that feeling I had felt once before, was there again.

I have always admired you, Ms. Knight. But now I admire you even more…I think, because you are so passionate about what you believe in and you so earnestly want to share it with others.  What a wonderful talent God has blessed you with…not only your beautiful voice, but your beautiful spirit as well. I hope you had a very Happy 67th Birthday this past Saturday.  I’m sure you shared it with your family and friends…and maybe even with The Pips!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Henry Kissinger!

May 27, 2011

Dear Hank,

A number of years ago, you were to be given the Nixon Foundation Architect of Peace award.  I was a docent at the Nixon Presidential Library at the time.  So that there were no empty seats at the ceremony, the foundation asked a number of docents to be “seat fillers.”  I was one of the docents chosen.

Before the event there would be a reception line. In the line would be Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Governor Pete Wilson, Senator John McCain and You.  The other docents and I were given only one instruction; how to address you.  We were told to say:  “Good evening, Doctor Kissinger, my name is …”  We received strict instructions to refer  to you ONLY as “DOCTOR Kissinger.”  We rehearsed what we were to say and I remember thinking:  oh, so this is how you talk to politicians?

As I waited with the other docents, I turned to them and said, “Why can’t we just say, ‘Good evening, MISTER Kissinger?’”  They said: “No, Vivian, you’d better follow protocol and say it just as you were told!” Then I looked at them and said in a very serious voice, “Well, I’m going to say, ‘Good evening, HANK!’ Why should I say ‘DOCTOR Kissinger?’  Heck, my dad has a doctorate and he doesn’t make everyone call him DOCTOR!”   They laughed, however I didn’t crack a smile and this alarmed them.  They believed I was going to go through with my plan.  

As we approached the reception line, we first met Mrs. Eisenhower, daughter of Pres. Nixon.  I barely got a word out of my mouth, when she said: “Good evening, I am Julie Eisenhower, and you are?”  I was kind of caught off guard. I stuttered out the name, “Vivian Love.”  I then had a brief conversation with her and found her to be absolutely charming. 

Next was Governor Pete Wilson, former governor of California. He didn’t say a word but shook my hand. I said, “Good evening” and continued down the line. Next was Senator John McCain of Arizona. He didn’t say a word either as we shook hands.  I said, “Good evening” and he actually smiled.

Finally came the moment for me to approach you.  Looking back at the docents who were behind me, I could see their concerned looks.  Was Vivian going to do it?  What would she say?  Was she serious? Would she be asked to resign from the docent guild tomorrow?  Would she embarrass all the docents?  

I approached you and saw your hand outstretched to mine. You didn’t say a word; didn’t even crack a smile.  I composed myself, took a deep breath, shook your hand and said, “Good evening, DOCTOR Kissinger, I am Vivian Love.”  (of course I over-emphasized DOCTOR!)  I could hear a faint sigh coming from the other docents. I smiled at them as we took our seats and said: “Did you really think I would call him Hank?” We all laughed.

What would you have thought Hank?  I could’ve called you “HEINZ!”…your birth name. LOL  I do hope you had a wonderful birthday on Friday, as you blew out 88 candles on your cake.  I hope your family and friends sang to you:  Happy Birthday to you, Hank! 

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday John Wayne!

May 26, 2011

Dear Marion,

You have been remembered as the epitome of vigor and ruggedness.  However, let me be honest with you Marion.  Your stage name, John Wayne, certainly suited you much better.  Perhaps as an infant, when your parents had their first look at you, they thought you looked like a Marion.  After your brother was born, and was named Robert, your parents changed your middle name to Michael. Your parents didn’t even use their birth names either. Your father was Clyde Morrison and he went by “Doc.”  Your mother was Mary Brown and she went by “Molly.” Sounds a bit confusing, I’d say.

Oh yes, I mustn’t forget another one of your names:  Duke.  The story goes that as a young man growing up in Glendale, Calif, you owned an Airedale terrier. You two were inseparable.  Local firemen, seeing you walk him along the streets of Glendale, gave you a nickname. The name stuck with you until the day you died. You were known as Big Duke and the dog was Little Duke.

Years later you recounted:  "There've been a lot of stories about how I got to be called Duke. One was that I played the part of a duke in a school play, which I never did. Sometimes, they even said I was descended from royalty!  It was all a lot of rubbish.  Hell, the truth is that I was named after a dog!"

Now John, my father used to tell a story about my great grandmother seeing you in a restaurant in Los Angeles.  She walked right up to you, slapped you on the back and said “Hello, John!”  You turned around, somewhat startled, but had a nice chat with her.  I see now that my longtime fascination with celebrities is genetic!

Considering that you and I both lived in Orange County for so many years, I feel like we have a kinship. I’ve lived in the OC for about 44 years.  I remember taking a boat tour of the Newport Harbor with my family and someone pointed out your beautiful home along the water. Out in front there was a private dock with your beautiful yacht, The Wild Goose.  The OC loved you so much; they even named an airport after you! 

Let me tell you a funny story, Duke.  Many years ago a friend of ours was visiting. He had the first name John and middle name Wayne. Once he was trying to get our daughter, who was 16 at the time, to guess his full name. He gave all kinds of hints like, “I was named after a famous western actor.”  She guessed: Clint Eastwood.  Then he said, “I was named after someone who people called The Duke.”  She guessed: A dog?  He tried to give her more clues, but finally gave up and told her, “My name is John Wayne!”  She looked at him completely serious and asked, “You were named after an airport???”

Well, I better close now.  A poll was conducted last year that indicated you were the 3^rd favorite actor in America…right behind Denzel Washington and Johnny Depp.  You left us too soon, Duke, but America still loves you.  Happy Birthday on what would have been your 104^th birthday.

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Mr. T!

May 21, 2011

Dear Laurence Tureaud,

The rest of the world knows you as Mr. T.  It’s funny how you are considered an 80’s icon. You developed a character and have stuck with it all these years.  In the acting world, an actor tries to avoid being typecast. However, you seem to embrace it.  Being typecast limits the work an actor gets.  Once an actor is strongly identified with a specific character or role, everyone expects to see only that.  But that’s how you’ve made millions!

That’s right, Larry.  May I call you Larry?  That would be your name if you hadn’t decided to change it to Mr. T.  Why did you do that anyway?  I know you came up with that name when you worked as a nightclub bouncer.  I wonder if people had a difficult time pronouncing your last name, so it was just easier to say: Call me Mr. T!  Back in those days, you didn’t do so badly. When you became a body guard, you were earning anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 a night.  You even worked for a time as a bodyguard to Michael Jackson!

Well, Larry, I first saw you as the character Clubber Lange and then as B.A. Baracus in the TV series, The A-Team.  You’ve worked on many other films and TV shows, mostly in cameo roles.  You’ve become quite well-known for just showing up in random films at random times!

You are best known, Larry, for your mohawk and jewelry.  At the height of your career you were wearing over $300,000 in jewelry at a time.  Now you don’t wear it so much.  And that’s ok. You’re still Mr. T!

I know that a few years back, you took a little break.  For about 5 years you were on hiatus as you recovered from a bought with cancer.  When you returned to show biz, you still had your signature mohawk.  For a time, the Chia Pet Company made a Mr. T. Chia head!  Ingenious!  There have been Mr. T dolls, cartoons, TV shows, and videos.   I just wanted to let you know that your “Treat Your Mother Right” is one of my favorites!

According to celebrynetworth.com, you are worth about $4.5 million.  Not too bad for a guy who has only ever portrayed one character.  As you would say, “I pity to fool!”...who says there’s anything wrong with being typecast!

I must close now and end this “jibba jabba!” Happy 59^th Birthday, Larry (aka Mr. T!)

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Enya!

May 17, 2011

Dear Eithne Padraigín Ní Bhraonáin,

Sorry, I don’t speak Irish Gaelic, your native language, so may I call you Enya?

I love your music. It is soothing and relaxing. Your voice is beautiful. Critics categorize your music as “New Age.”  You, however, categorize it as “Enya” music.  Even your 4 Grammy’s are in the “New Age” category.  In your next acceptance speech you should let people know that it is “Enya” music!  

I remember hearing “Orinoco Flow” (Sail Away) for the first time in the late 80’s.  At first I thought “Enya” was an entire music group. I heard that you overlay your voice up to 8 times in many of your songs. That’s how it sounds like many people singing. In order to sing in live venues, I understand that you must sing along with taped music of your songs.  That’s the only way to achieve the same effect.

If life could have a soundtrack, Enya, I think your music would make a beautiful theme for mine. Most days I would probably pick Led Zeppelin or The Who as the theme music to my life. However, your music would calm me down and make everything seem more beautiful. No matter what I did in any given day, if there was Enya music playing in the background, it would make my life seem beautiful. Going to the grocery store, the mall, pumping gas, working, driving on the freeway, everything would be so beautiful!

The 1991 Steve Martin film, “LA Story” had 3 of your songs in it. This is where I came up with the idea that your music would be a beautiful life soundtrack. It seems hard to believe that a movie about Los Angeles would have Enya music in it.  However, it really enhanced the movie.

Now Enya, I must tell you that one of my favorite of your songs is “If I Could Be Where You Are.”  It moves me to tears when I listen to it. It describes perfectly how I feel about my late sister. I miss her terribly. One of these days I hope to visit you in your castle mansion in Ireland and I will ask you all about that song and perhaps if there’s a story behind it.

Thank you for creating, what I describe, as a big of heaven on earth. Happy 50^th Birthday!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Megan Fox!

May 16, 2011

Dear Megan Fox,

Yes, you are considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. And I certainly agree. However, no one in Hollywood is perfect. Not even you. You have one flaw. Although you try to hide it in your films and photos, it was made known to me by my daughter. It’s your thumbs. You were born with a condition called “brachydactyly” thumbs, which means that your thumbs are slightly clubbed or misshapen. Some people call it a “nubby thumb.”  I’m sure this won’t get in the way of millions of men swooning over you though. And just so you don’t have to feel alone in the “strange thumbs department,” here are a couple more celebs with misshapen thumbs. You see Megan, you’re in perfect company with Vince Vaughan, Eric Roberts, and Adrian Pasdar (“Nathan Petrelli” in Heroes).

Now, one good thing about Hollywood, Megan, is that you can always hire a hand-double. It’s true. I remember hearing at my daughter’s agency that they were looking for a hand double for actor, Adrian Pasdar. They were very specific. The hand-double had to have the same skin tone, age, finger shape, etc. as Adrian. And even if a man met the qualifications, he still had to “audition” for the job. The hand had to match perfectly!  You see, that day on the set of Heroes, they were filming a scene where “Nathan Petrelli” was showing someone a ring he was wearing on his left hand. His left hand? Oh no, that’s the hand where he has a misshapen thumb!  No problem, just cue the hand-double. And that’s exactly what they did!  I’ll bet you never noticed they never showed “Nathan Petrelli’s” left thumb! Ever!

So Megan, you probably have a hand-double that works for you too. She’s probably on an on-call basis. You probably have her phone number memorized! Now if she’s unavailable some time, no problem. They’ll just Photoshop a good thumb in for you!

I hope you had a wonderful 25th birthday. I’m sure you didn’t forget to hide your one “flaw” as you blew out the 25 candles! By the way, if it makes you feel any better, Jennifer Garner has a strange right toe and Dan Ackroyd was born with webbed feet. Don’t believe me? Just Google it!  Remember, no one in Hollywood is perfect! Not even you, Megan Fox!

Regards, Mrs Love