Sunday, July 20, 2014

Saying Goodbye - - -

Saying goodbye is never easy.  Why is it hard even when it involves people you've never met?


Well, speaking for myself, I think it's because some people just shine a little brighter.  They touch so many of us in ways mere mortals just aren't able.  And when they leave, while they leave a hole in a place that was all theirs, they also leave our lives a little richer.



Elaine Stritch was, to me, bigger than life.  One of those salty old broads that makes that very term one to try to live up to.  Proudly.

Elaine Stritch 
February 2, 1925 - July 17, 2014






 and . . .


James Garner.
Oh, my. What woman my age didn't have a crush on James Garner?  





  1. James Garner
  2. April 7, 1928 - July 19, 2014



My first memories of Mr. Garner are watching Maverick with my dad.  I don't remember what night it came on, and I don't remember the entire line-up, but it seems like there was a never-ending cycle of cowboys.  Remember?  GunsmokeThe Lone RangerThe Rifleman, Wanted: Dead or AliveLaramieHave Gun, Will TravelBonanzaThe VirginianWagon TrainThe Big ValleyThe High ChaparralThe Gene Autry ShowSugarfootCheyenne,  Palladin.  I loved those shows.  But none more than Maverick.  





And then we fell in love with him all over again as Rockford.





And, if that's not enough, here's the man he was away from Hollywood - - - 


James Garner with Diahann Carroll at the March on Washington 1963




Saying good-bye, and  thank you.  You enriched a lot of lives for a lot of years, which is no small thing.

7 comments:

Lesa said...

Thank you, Kaye. As always, you put into words what so many of us are thinking. And, you helped me realize why George Donaldson's premature death at 46 continues to bother me. I only met him once, saw him seven times, but he shown brighter than so many others. Thank you, and hugs. Thanks for the memories.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Thank you, Lesa. You know, I probably would never have discovered Celtic Thunder if it weren't for you and I thank you for that. George Donaldson truly was a bright, bright star and he left us much too soon. But I am so happy you were able to meet him. Hugs right back at you, my friend!

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Thank you, Lesa. You know, I probably would never have discovered Celtic Thunder if it weren't for you and I thank you for that. George Donaldson truly was a bright, bright star and he left us much too soon. But I am so happy you were able to meet him. Hugs right back at you, my friend!

Mason Canyon said...

Kaye, I agree with Lesa, you summarized what a lot of us feel. I wish there were more actors like James Gardner for the younger generation to look up to. Both of these fascinating people will be missed.

Unknown said...

Thank you, Kaye. I hadn't realized that besides all his other good qualities -- essentially he was exactly what he seemed to be -- that he was active in Civil Rights and anti-racism as well. Even more my hero.

Libby Dodd said...

Talk about an example--Garner was married for 40something years to the same woman!
And those Polaroid adds he did with Mariette Hartley made me actually look forward to commercials!

To add one more to the "western" list--Branded.

lil Gluckstern said...

Thank you for saying this, and you did it so well. These truly were stars in my firmament.