From The Past: July 22, 2008
I am a huge fan of the documentary Grey Gardens which chronicled the life of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie. The mother and daughter were recluses and lived in a rat, raccoon, and cat infested house in East Hampton. These ladies were the aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The documentary takes place in the 70’s and frankly, I find it fascinating. You either love it or hate it.
If you do happen to love it as I do, you must see The Beales of Grey Gardens which shows unseen footage from the documentary. I found parts of this DVD more absorbing than the original documentary. You can buy BOTH documentaries in this one set: https://amzn.to/3yksoHc
The reason I mentioned the DVD’s is because I just finished reading: My Life at Grey Gardens https://amzn.to/3WyfcIa
This book was written by Lois Wright who is seen in the documentary. Unknown to the viewers, Wright lived at Grey Gardens during and after the filming. She gives great insight to the ladies and what it was like living with the fear of a raccoon jumping on your head! If you’ve seen the movie, you have to read this book. On the flip side; if you have not seen the movie, you couldn’t truly relate to these people and should wait until viewing the DVD.
One thing that puzzles me is that the Beales never seemed to receive any compensation from movie profits. Wright alluded to this in the book. This really bothers me. If anyone knows differently, please let me know. Otherwise, I don’t understand why the Maysles’, the film makers, would stiff two eccentric, but loving women from the profits they so deserved!
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This will be the last day you hear from me until the 28th; that is assuming I am not too fatigued to blog on the 28th! I considered posting from Florida, however it is $10 every 24 hours for Internet at Disney. I think I can wait! I’m sure I will have an overabundance of pictures to show you and also some video if everything turns out right.
We have most everything packed that can be packed. As you know, there are always those items such as toothbrushes, hairbrushes, hairspray and contact cases to name a few, which cannot be put away early.
Unfortunately, Mom was out of it for most of our visit. They have decided to give her small doses of Phenergan all day instead of one large dose. The large dose is what keeps her groggy.
She has sores in her mouth, making it very hard to eat. She seems to do well with liquids such as soup, coffee, and milkshakes. The nurse told her the sores would begin diminishing in about four days or as her white blood count rises. Since she had her last round of chemotherapy Sunday morning, her numbers should be much better by the time we return.
This afternoon, during a visit from a former coworker, Mom was lucid and it was great to see her smile. I needed that image to keep in my mind while we are away!