Patrick Swayze

Filed Under Celebrities, Movies, My Childhood, Thoughts | 3 Comments

I can’t believe that he just died… I mean, I believe it. He had cancer. But he just seemed too strong and handsome to die. Does that make sense? Many other stars have died and it hasn’t really hit me. But Patrick was my first movie star crush. I can recite probably every line to Dirty Dancing; it’s one of my favorites. I always have admired his talent and I love to watch him dance. When I was in about third grade my friend and I used to talk about how we wanted to be “Baby” (Jennifer Gray) so that we could dance with him. I remember buying Ghost when it came out on VHS too. I also admire him because he didn’t seem to fall into the Hollywood lifestyle of adultery, drugs, etc. He was with his wife for 37 years, and he stayed true to her and fought against his cancer until the very end. I just didn’t want the end to be already. It won’t be the same watching those movies now and knowing that he isn’t alive.

So many of us will miss you, Johnny Castle.

Something the prince never knew

Filed Under Celebrities, Difficult Stuff, Video | 6 Comments

I have been crying this morning. Steven Curtis Chapman lost his daughter in a tragic accident. Here is an excerpt from a Chicago Tribune article:

The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of the family’s home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The brother, whose name and exact age weren’t available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.

“It looks like a tragic accident,” she said.

For those of you who know us well, you know that this just hits a little too close to home. Jonathon was the one to call and tell me about it this morning.

This is the daughter that Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the song “Cinderella” about.

The words even say, “She spins and she sways to whatever song plays, without a care in the world. And I’m sitting here bearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s been a long day and there’s still work to do. She’s pulling at me saying, ‘Dad, I need you. There’s a ball at the castle, and I’ve been invited. And I need to practice my dancing. So please, Daddy, please…’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. Because I know something the prince never knew. Oh I’ll dance with Cinderella; I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone.’

She says he’s a nice guy, I’d be impressed. She wants to know if I approve of the dress. She says ‘Daddy, the prom’s just one week away, and I need to practice my dancing.’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. For I know something the prince never knew. So I’ll dance with Cinderella, I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone. She will be gone.

She came home today, with a ring on her hand. Just glowing and telling us all they had planned. She says, ‘Dad, the wedding’s still six months away. But I need to practice my dancing. So please, Daddy, please…’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. For I know something the prince never knew. So I’ll dance with Cinderella; I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone.”

Thank God that he understood how quickly time goes by. I know he never dreamed this would happen, but he was very aware that they may not have forever. I hope he cherished every moment with his daughter. I hope he stopped to dance with her whenever she asked. And I hope this is a reminder to all of us to slow down and enjoy each dance. We never know when the clock will strike midnight.

New Celeb Gossip Site

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Speaking of my favorite web sites, I found a new celebrity gossip site. I used to obsessively read People magazine and US Weekly because the family I nannied for (long time ago, not Alison’s family) subscribed to them. Since then I have been totally hooked on the gossip and do my best to keep up. Yesterday in the checkout line at Dierbergs, I was looking at the headlines and realized I was a little out of touch. Jennifer Aniston is adopting? Britney cut ties with her mom? What?

I’m thinking I’ll have to bookmark this one so I can waste even more time sitting in front of my computer. Because I don’t do that enough. Hey, at least it gives me something to do while nursing the baby!