Lyrical and powerful. Thank you for the welcome distraction!
I was a toddler when Marilyn died and so grew up amid the hype, but resisted it. (I was more of an If-everyone-else-goes-gaga-over-something-I’ll-be-sure-to-express-indifference kind of kid). Candle in the Wind, which I did go gaga over along with everyone else, made me see her in a different light (pun intended). The Diana version made me cringe. (Lyrics weren’t great and what, she wasn’t entitled to have her husband to herself and now not even her own song?) By contrast, “Empty Garden”, Elton’s tribute to the murdered John Lennon, moved me very much and this line makes me think of Sinwar: “It’s funny how one insect can damage so much grain.”
I learned of Princess Diana’s passing from my fiancée by cell phone in the parking lot of a hardware store. The Royals were never a big deal for this suburban American, but her and beauty remain synonymous to me to this day.
Never forgotten, the astonishment that we’ve all felt since many times now as people and generations move into history. I have Elton’s still-wrapped CD, just kept it across the decades. The Jewish people have provided so many examples for continuing to shine brightly through good times and bad, I had to check if Elton J was Jewish but nope lol.
Marilyn will always be symbolic of so many things from that generation.
Before this column dropped I was watching Chana Weisberg’s latest with Tuky Trietel, Holocaust survivors are always worth a listen.
Ironically, legend has it differently, with two versions of her death. RFKJnr would bury 10 bears in Central Park if he knew that his father on the night of her death , either was at Peter Lawfords house near beach , or it was as JFK ! RFK always said he was in San Francisco . Reliable sources , eg attending medical practitioner of MM , was called in , to assist in cover up. It appears she had two puncture holes . She loved Jack , but he passed her on to his brother. I tend to nearly agree , as I read the books and saw her notes to Jack . Lawfords party confirmed attendance.
The sadness , nevertheless continues, with or without, accident , suicide or murder . My own mother died of same drug she had in system, choral hydrate , the sleeper/ tranquilliser of the time . She looked like MM or Elizabeth Taylor.
Why is everyone, not just you, is obsessed with her? At the time , I had crush on Jane Mansfield, later beheaded in car accident with her husband, a muscular man. Their daughter went on to star in Law and Order. It’s seven degrees of Kevin Bacon , oh , I forgot, your Jewish, no offence , just you now are my crush . Watch your head, I am.
The Kennedy’s passed her around in a most undignified manner. Two pump John and Bobby were as uncouth as it gets when it comes to women and DiMaggio could take being in her shadow. Arthur Miller was to kind and she never really found her safe space. Very sad. That song had always loved me to bits. I would have loved to watch her grow old.
Marilyn was a strong woman who made it in a man's world, but not without having to put up with her brains, her humanity being ignored. I believe the stress from that dissonance is what led to her death. RIP Norma Jean.
“Braving a journey to externalize my sorrow”
Eve, You are very courageous. I hope I see you!
Eve, you write the way I dream of writing.
Lyrical and powerful. Thank you for the welcome distraction!
I was a toddler when Marilyn died and so grew up amid the hype, but resisted it. (I was more of an If-everyone-else-goes-gaga-over-something-I’ll-be-sure-to-express-indifference kind of kid). Candle in the Wind, which I did go gaga over along with everyone else, made me see her in a different light (pun intended). The Diana version made me cringe. (Lyrics weren’t great and what, she wasn’t entitled to have her husband to herself and now not even her own song?) By contrast, “Empty Garden”, Elton’s tribute to the murdered John Lennon, moved me very much and this line makes me think of Sinwar: “It’s funny how one insect can damage so much grain.”
I learned of Princess Diana’s passing from my fiancée by cell phone in the parking lot of a hardware store. The Royals were never a big deal for this suburban American, but her and beauty remain synonymous to me to this day.
Never forgotten, the astonishment that we’ve all felt since many times now as people and generations move into history. I have Elton’s still-wrapped CD, just kept it across the decades. The Jewish people have provided so many examples for continuing to shine brightly through good times and bad, I had to check if Elton J was Jewish but nope lol.
Marilyn will always be symbolic of so many things from that generation.
Before this column dropped I was watching Chana Weisberg’s latest with Tuky Trietel, Holocaust survivors are always worth a listen.
Shalom
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was the soundtrack to my early teenage years. and Candle was one of my favorites.
From memory, "...from the young man in the twenty-second row/who sees you as something more than sexual/more than just our Marilyn Monroe"
(I think it was the twenty-second row!)
Your writing is just 🙌🏼 thanks for enhancing my 6:30 am ☕️
Ironically, legend has it differently, with two versions of her death. RFKJnr would bury 10 bears in Central Park if he knew that his father on the night of her death , either was at Peter Lawfords house near beach , or it was as JFK ! RFK always said he was in San Francisco . Reliable sources , eg attending medical practitioner of MM , was called in , to assist in cover up. It appears she had two puncture holes . She loved Jack , but he passed her on to his brother. I tend to nearly agree , as I read the books and saw her notes to Jack . Lawfords party confirmed attendance.
The sadness , nevertheless continues, with or without, accident , suicide or murder . My own mother died of same drug she had in system, choral hydrate , the sleeper/ tranquilliser of the time . She looked like MM or Elizabeth Taylor.
Why is everyone, not just you, is obsessed with her? At the time , I had crush on Jane Mansfield, later beheaded in car accident with her husband, a muscular man. Their daughter went on to star in Law and Order. It’s seven degrees of Kevin Bacon , oh , I forgot, your Jewish, no offence , just you now are my crush . Watch your head, I am.
Charles
The Kennedy’s passed her around in a most undignified manner. Two pump John and Bobby were as uncouth as it gets when it comes to women and DiMaggio could take being in her shadow. Arthur Miller was to kind and she never really found her safe space. Very sad. That song had always loved me to bits. I would have loved to watch her grow old.
Marilyn was a strong woman who made it in a man's world, but not without having to put up with her brains, her humanity being ignored. I believe the stress from that dissonance is what led to her death. RIP Norma Jean.
SOME candles refuse extinguishment. For me there's an analogy here to deeper meaning.