Wednesday, July 19, 2006




Cinderella I Am NOT!!!!

I going to relent and post a pic...And I want to state right up front that I am not a glamorous gal. Just a regular gal. I do not light up a room when I walk in. I am just a normal gal who looks like a hundred other gals and 'Bella' is form of greeting that my young Italian Restauranteurs. The pic I have chosen is of me in the morning on my front porch... In FULL 'mornin'glory...

I will post my pic but you will have to endure another story...

I used to know this actor.
He was a Shakespearian actor.
Onr of those amazing voices that you would die for.
His name was John Colicos.

He used to frequent the bar I worked at years ago. We met each other and we had the same quirky sense of humour... He could tell a good yarn. His stories were amazing. I loved all of them. We just got along like old souls. No attraction just a love of a good story and for it to be delivered with that voice...Wow!
What an honour to hear him speak!

I quit working at the bar but continued my friendship with John Colicos. We would meet for the odd drink and just share some stories. We would always be approached by people who were greatly effected/affected by his work...
Apparently he was one of the best King Lear's of our day. He first performed the role in 1966 and it changed people...(Or so the many people who approached whatever retaurant we were in would say!)He of course was in a whole lot more, as I learned through his fans. He was the first Klingon in Star Trek and Baltar in Battlestar Gallactica. He was in the Battle of Navarone, He was in the Postman Always Rings Twice with Jessica Lange and Jaaaaaackk...

He was modest and never talked about being an actor. He just talked about life, renovations and stories about the stars that I would just gobble up over dinner.
He was always gracious with his fans. He signed autographs a plenty. The fans always left feeling like they connected with a star.

And I was always left pondering how we became friends.

One day, I had just worked out at the gym and was on my way home. I had no make up on my face, it was blotchy from a workout. My hair was stringy from just having showered. I was wearing comfy clothes and running shoes. And to top my 'look' off I had my work out bag.

I was walking with purpose when I bump into John wearing jeans and a yellow ascot.(I kid you not)

Pendullum Dahhhhling... Is that you???

John? How are you?

Pendullum where are you headed?

Oh, I think just home.

Pendullum, why don't you join me for a drink?

Oh, what the heck why not?

I am not feeling self conscious as these moments are to be embraced. How often do we bump into an old friend and you both have time for each other?

Well, we hop into a taxi and he gives an address that I am not paying attention to as we are gabbing and getting caught up in each other's lives.

We head out a bit and then the taxi stops in front of a red carpet, search lights and someone opens the door. I look at John.

Oh Dahling, it's just a premiere.
What? A Premiere?
A man grabs my hand, helps to haul my sorry worked out butt out of the taxi.
I look at John as I want to kill him. Everyone is in black taffeta. Everyone is decked out and then there is me. Miss Workout in her skanky, comfy, illfitting outfit... I could have killed him.

It was sink of swim.

John did not have a mean bone in his body. He was the most unpretentious person I have ever known. He never judged people by their appearances and this certainly proved it. I was with a man going to a premiere that was wearing an ascot he was in a denim shirt and casual pants. He never noticed my ratty appearance... He just saw a friend...

He then announces me at the front. He gives my full name and it sounds glorious. I have never heard anyone annunciate my name before. It sounded so regal, so majestic. I pulled my shoulders back and took in my name...
It was a voice that the Queen of England is accustomed to, but not this wee gal.

I became the Empress With New Clothes.
Through the delivery of my name alone I became a starlet for one night. In my stringy, now dry hair, in my wild, comfy clothes I became someone. Someone who had an introduction like no other.
Norman Jewison came over and asked me what I had been in. I had actors approach as John guided me through the crowd of people waiting for the picture to begin.

I loved him for that moment. I love to tell that story to my daughter. It was a life's lesson. It is not what we wear. It is not what we look like. It is all in the delivery. Hold your head up. Walk tall. And have a great Shakespearian actor on your side!


We should all be so lucky.

53 comments:

crazymumma said...

I have a story about his son.....
Anne

Unknown said...

uhm... haven't i seen you somewhere before??
(heh):)

Anonymous said...

THAT IS A GREAT STORY!!!!!!! WOW!!!

Flame Lilly said...

WOW!!! What an exciting story! Thanks for the posting the pics! I'm trying to figure out "who" you are!!!

OhTheJoys said...

Nice one! You should wear red everyday!

Robin said...

What a great story.
It really is all about your attitude and not about the clothes or the hair. Too bad most people don't realize that.
Have you ever read the story "The Paper Bag Princess"? If not,try to find it. It's a children's story...sort of. It proves the same point.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Babaloo said...

Is this the same friend you wrote about on Mommy Off The Record's blog? This was a great story, I'm sure your daughter loves hearing it! What a great lesson too. Thanks for sharing it.

Nikki said...

Bella!

Please sit at my table ;)

Fabulous story. Absolutely fabulous.

Unknown said...

Trying to figure out who you look like. Its someone...

Pollyanna said...

Bellllllaaaa, darling, you can join me at our table anytime. I am NOT David Cassidy, but I love your stories and you are simply devastatinly clever, beautiful, and famous, I just KNOW it. :)

That really was a great story. A good lesson to be learned for sure.

Teri M. said...

You have just the best stories.

Love the pics!

Jennifer Wertkin said...

I think it's a fabulous story. And I think YOU look fabulous, like a princess.
xo
jw

Haute Mama said...

You're gorgeous and red is definately your color!!

I so get it. I have a male friend like that, no attraction, just a connection of souls. He's one of the funniest, smartest, creative humans I know and he's almost 70.

Catch said...

THAT is a great story...and THAT is why I keep coming back to your blog.....I love the way you post! Always interesting!!!! And hey! The pics are great!!!!! except you have a fork in one of your eyes...did you know that????? LoL....huggs!

Christina_the_wench said...

Amazing story. You have a way with words. And you're absolutely beautiful. I think I hate you now.

j/k ;)

Keep them stories coming our way.

Namito said...

I love the sound of a well trained voice. If it's speaking the language of the Bard, so much the better!

It must have been glorious to hear your name like that.

Thanks for the bit of magic!

Mackenzie said...

What an incredible story! It is a great life lesson, indeed.

Gingers Mom said...

Wow. What an incredible story. He sounds like a real fantastic gentleman. Thanks for stopping by my blog. You have a great one here yourself!

Kim Ayres said...

Thanks for taking the time to comment on my site. And I must say the cutlery suits you well :)

mamatulip said...

Amazing story. Amazing photographs.

You are amazing.

Liz Miller said...

What a great story!

Thanks for visiting me, I'm gonna be a regular here, I can tell.

Rhonda said...

I've fallen in love with your stories and, as everyone else has said, this one was fabulous and contained such an important lesson.

And you are famous-looking if not famous :)

Chicky said...

Susan St James maybe? But MUCH younger. That's what first struck me. Or Katherine Ross (Butch Cassidy)...again, much younger.

Aw, who knows, you just look Bella, dahling...

Kristin said...

What a great story and what a thing to remember! It sounds right out of a romantic comedy...

Also, how gorgeous are you?!? Sigh, now I havet to add you to my list of people to hate.

Sandra said...

Love the picture. I still can't figure out "who" you are. But I do know you are a damn good story teller. I LOVED that one!

Andrea said...

I think you look a bit like Jessica Hecht, the lady who played in that movie "Sideways" as the main character Miles' ex wife. Beautiful pictures.


And you have the best stories.

Chicky Chicky Baby said...

What a fantastic story! I am once again impressed by your cohones. A premiere right after the gym?! Amazing.

And you? Rwaaarrr. If I looked that good first thing in the morning I would be posting pictures of myself all over the internet.

Julie Marsh said...

Tacy and I are snuggling on the sofa together - she saw that first pic and giggled, "Who IS that?!"

We both think you are hilarious. And tell the most incredible stories.

ditzymoi said...

fantastic story! im so glad you found me so i could find you :)
im not sure what star it is you look like ...but im pretty sure youre a star all on your own... wonderful!

Cristina said...

Oh, LOVE that story. You had be completely captivated by your words once again....and now also by your picture! Pendullum revelead! You're a beauty!! Thanks so much for sharing your pic with us.

The Domesticator said...

Sounds like someone who just saw you, his friend. I love that.

Oh, and um....I hope you don't mind me saying something shallow right now, but...you are beautiful!

Dana a/k/a Sunshine said...

I am so glad to see your picture..and of course you ARE beautiful!! Your life is soo much more interesting than mine - ha ha. Thanks for visiting my blog again!

Attila the Mom said...

I really really adore your writings.

And you're just lovely. You've got a beautiful smile. :-)

Chuck said...

Wow, great story! Love the pics...thanks for the visit to my blog!

Her Bad Mother said...

What a FABULOUS story, truly dahling!

(And? Gorgeous pics! Both of them! Pretty! Rendered me incoherent!)

pinknest said...

oh, i love your pics!! thanks so much for posting them, bella. :) and for holding utensils in your face and wearing sweaty clothes to a premiere.

FFF said...

Another great story and a beautiful picture. You look serene and happy on your porch!

Becky at lifeoutoffocus said...

yay you posted a pic! i'm so glad! great pics!

Kelly Wolfe said...

That is such a cool story. Whenever you feel down, just replay his voice in your head saying your name that way.

Lisa

Kelly Wolfe said...

oh, forgot to say that you ARE gorgeous. But your modesty makes you more so.

Lisa

Kevin Charnas said...

Fantastic story. Love it! And it is so true, it's completely our attitude.

My monitor bites ass here at work and is too dark to view your photos, so I'm going to check them out when I get home tonight...speaking of which, I can't even believe that it was a PREMIERE that you were GOING TO AFTER WORKING OUT!!! That is just too damn funny...and frightening. :)

Moobs said...

This post is utterly perfect.

Mama en Fuego said...

That's awesome. What an amazing experience, you are so lucky to have such a friend and he is clearly lucky to have you as well.

Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'll come back and visit :)

Heather @ thedomesticdiva.org said...

thanx for visiting my site....you have a very good site as well, good read.

IzzyMom said...

Oh Pendullum, dahling...that was a fabulous story and YOU, my dear, are gorgeous both with and without silverware on your eyes :)

the mystic said...

Great story and pictures! And when you're cute, you're cute... even in baggy workout clothes.

Anonymous said...

i wish i looked that good. at any given time, especially right after i have gotten up.

Kevin Charnas said...

oh...you ARE beautiful, aren't you...
top pic - fun and yet still sexy.
bottom pic - softly glam...

starbender said...

That was truly beautiful!
:]

starbender said...

*waves*
Hi Catch-
Hi Mimi-
fancy runnin into u here!
:]

Pinterest Failures said...

I loved that story! A nightmare come true turned out to be an amazing experience. That is awesome! Maybe I won't be so upset the next time I have a dream that I am walking around naked in public...

shpprgrl said...

omogish, that is an awesome story. that is my luck exactly! thanks for stopping by recently....

but Momma said...

What a great story! And a Beautiful smile! Enjoying browsing your blog! Thanks for stopping by and introducing yourself ;)!