Goodbye Liz

[Janet_Girl]

One of the Most Beautiful women in the world is gone. 

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011)
 
 

[NikkiJ]

She lived a superlative life and was a true icon of her time.

[rejennyrated]

I had the privilege of an extended one on one with her aged about 18 or 19.

I had gone with my parents to the first night of a play "The Old Country" at the Haymarket theatre, starring Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson.

In the interval we went to the bar and my mother asked me to get her a glass of wine, however the barman said they had none. I was a bit disappointed as the very elegant lady standing next to me had a nearly full bottle. As I was about to convey the bad news to my mother the lady in question courteously said "what a shame - it's so disappointing when you can't get what you want. Please ask your mother if she would accept a glass from me." I smiled and she pour a glass which I took over to my mother along with my stepfather's whiskey.

Not wanting to be rude I then went back to thank the lady and we had a long conversation about the play, what I was hoping to do in life, all sorts. She was wonderfully attentive and a genuinely warm person. Anyway when the bell rang to return to the seats and I said goodbye and we went back to our seats.

When I got back my mother said "Did you get her autograph then?" I looked confused. "Who?" I enquired. "Liz Taylor, you just spent thirty minutes with her," my stepfather laughed. "You sods! Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "Because she was so obviously enjoying the fact that you hadn't recognised her, and she could have a normal conversation for once," they replied. "We didn't want to spoil it for her."

So that was my full 30 minutes one on one talking alone with one of the greatest film-stars the UK has ever produced, and as usual with me, at the time, I was blissfully unaware of my good luck.

But then that's my life to a T. I do get fantastic good luck, but all too often I fail to recognise it! 

[tekla]

I always thought of what Romeo says to himself when he first sees Juliet:

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.
The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

If that seems a bit much, well... for all of you who never knew, or forgot, how much pure sexual beauty she had cornered the market on (and for the rest of us to just celebrate)...

[Melody Maia]

That is a great story Jenny. In a funny way I think we can all understand the attraction to being just a normal girl for awhile.

[xxUltraModLadyxx]

i only know of her perfume. white diamonds. my mom wears it.

[tekla]

I know a lot of people who keep a copy of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? around so they can watch it whenever they are thinking about getting into another relationship.

It the one movie that makes you think that staying single for the rest of your life is just about the best idea you can ever have.  Everyone thinks love will solve their problems, in reality it just gives you a problem so huge it pretty much cancels out all the other ones.

George: You can sit around with the gin running out of your mouth; you can humiliate me; you can tear me to pieces all night, that's perfectly okay, that's all right.
Martha: You can stand it!
George: I cannot stand it!
Martha: You can stand it, you married me for it!
George: That's a desperately sick lie.
Martha: Don't you know it even yet?

[NikkiJ]

Rejennyrated, I enjoyed your story!

Tekla, I understand what your're saying. after being married/relationship with a person for 25 yrs who made me very unhappy, I am beginning to revel in my solitude. I was pretty lonely at first, but less so now, and while I thought i wanted another girl, I think I only want a part-time relationship now. Sex, yes. Every day....no thanks.