As a pre-teen I spent most nights glued to the TV watching Nick@Nite, Nickelodeon's lineup of classic shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and my favorite...The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I loved witnessing the friendship and exchanges between the straight-edge Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) vs. the wise-cracking Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper). The entire cast of MTM was comedic perfection...Betty White, Cloris Leachman, Georgia Engel, Ed Asner, Gavin MacLeod, and Ted Knight. While I adored modern sitcoms as a kid, the old classics provided me with a lesson in solid comedic writing and exposed me to the true trailblazers of TV comedy.
When I recently heard that one of my favorite TV icons, Valerie Harper, was now battling brain cancer (after beating lung cancer!), the news hit me harder than I had imagined. My strong reaction was a blend of empathy for a childhood hero, an admiration for bravery, a true reality check to embrace life and live it to the fullest. I even have a closer connection to Valerie...we are both friends with Ed Asner!
It baffles me that someone so talented and sweet, who has inspired us through her TV, Broadway, and philanthropic projects, must face such a scary and grim diagnosis. What impresses me most about Valerie is her genuine spirit, her honesty, and her tenacity to share her personal plight with the world. Since her diagnosis, Valerie has been tirelessly sharing her story, educating others on the importance of health screenings and living in the present. We are all terminal and none of us are getting out alive! Val's quote says it best: "Don't go to the funeral until the day of the funeral."
When I recently heard that one of my favorite TV icons, Valerie Harper, was now battling brain cancer (after beating lung cancer!), the news hit me harder than I had imagined. My strong reaction was a blend of empathy for a childhood hero, an admiration for bravery, a true reality check to embrace life and live it to the fullest. I even have a closer connection to Valerie...we are both friends with Ed Asner!
It baffles me that someone so talented and sweet, who has inspired us through her TV, Broadway, and philanthropic projects, must face such a scary and grim diagnosis. What impresses me most about Valerie is her genuine spirit, her honesty, and her tenacity to share her personal plight with the world. Since her diagnosis, Valerie has been tirelessly sharing her story, educating others on the importance of health screenings and living in the present. We are all terminal and none of us are getting out alive! Val's quote says it best: "Don't go to the funeral until the day of the funeral."
A fun little update! I had the amazing opportunity to attend a taping of Dancing with the Stars in LA on Sept. 30th with my awesome friend Keith (he affectionately refers to me as his Flame Dame)! The theme of the show was "Hollywood Night", so we got to witness sweet Valerie take to the dance floor as Grace Kelly. She is a monumental sweetheart (but we already knew that) and I am so honored to have met her!
I also was saddened to hear the news about her illness but I love her perspective and that quote... "Don't go to the funeral until the day of the funeral"...it really struck a chord with me. There is a verse I love that says (more or less) "don't worry about tomorrow because each day has enough troubles of its own"..it's easy to get caught up thinking about (or worrying about) what could be or what might happen or even the tough situation we might currently be in, but all we really have is the here and now and we could all benefit by counting our blessings and learning to fully live in the present.
ReplyDeleteI loved your insight, Kelly, and once again you've created the perfect paper piece to capture Valerie's spirit and her beautiful smile.
And her note to you is perfect. Sweet and simple and so true!
I agree with you Kelly, it's very hard knowing she is battling cancer. I was shocked and saddened to hear the news. I was so grateful that I was able to write a poem for her and send it to her via mail and she receiving it. I always loved watching the Mary Tyler Moore show. The entire cast was brilliant and the writing superb. Valerie's quote "Don't go to the funeral until the day of the funeral" how true that is. She is courageous and a hero to everyone. Kelly your artwork you done for Valerie is indeed beautifully done. I'm glad you got to do this for Valerie and her family. All we can do for Valerie is pray hard and let her know she is loved and we pray for a cure. Valerie's an incredible lady and a very loving lady. Her note to you was short and sweet and straight to the point. You are so gifted Kelly
ReplyDeleteXoxo robin