Now that Cate Blanchett won the Oscar for Best Actress, and in her acceptance speech noted the film was about women, and her co-star Sarah Hawkins was nominated for best supporting [3/4/14 correction: Hawkins was only nominated, did not win (as previously stated) — that cool young African American woman won for 12 Years a Slave]… but in Jasmine, two women – a movie about two women. Cate saying that it should be noted the movie made money, people do come to see films made about women.

Then a throwaway comment somewhere in there by, I don’t know, who – the announcer, perhaps, “the modern day Blanche DuBois” And I get it. Yes. This story is Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams another troubled man  who wrote excellent and complex roles for women. (Woody Allen wrote this one.)

 It is the same story: fragile, homeless and faux elegant, barely in touch with reality woman is forced to live, as a last resort, with her poor sister, who has a husband/boyfriend of a rough sort (Marlon Brando yelling “Stella! Stella!” — Hal, Ginger’s boyfriend confronts her, makes a scene in the grocery store where she works).

is he a Brando type or what??

 If I had caught on to the shadowing, I would have known that it could only end badly. (Blanche guided away to the asylum “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”) and in Blue Jasmine… well, I won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it.

 You watch it and tell me if you see more connections with Streetcar. I know Streetcar well. Bob and I saw a traditional staging of the play at the Guthrie a couple of years ago… it was dedicated to a talented man (can’t remember his name right now) who staged Streetcar at the U when I was an undergraduate. I worked on props. I was one of the ones whose job it was to crash a box of broken glass behind the scenes (when Blanche breaks a bottle to defend herself) and hand her the “broken” one off stage. Tennessee Williams was still living at that time and he actually came to one of the productions since he knew the director. (I did not see him, though… he was not at one of my performances)

All that came rushing back as I thought of Blue Jasmine. I am pulled into her story and her desperate attempts to save herself, but alas, like Blanche, she doesn’t have much reserve or strength to save herself and is always in danger of sinking into madness, anxiety…all the pills and her Stoli martini with a twist do not seem to help.  

Blue Jasmine is out on DVD – Netflix – and Streetcar Named Desire, with Marlon Brando, is out there too. Looking up Streetcar on IMBD I note that a remake in 1995 starred Alec Baldwin… he is in Jasmine too. Vivian Leigh won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1952 for playing Blanche. And playing the lead role in Jasmine is  Cate BLANCHEtte — lots more parallels in the story too, such as how the sister ends up… no spoilers – you have to see it.

All four of Bob’s children as well as grandchildren and one great-grandchild were in Vegas while we were there over President’s Day weekend. What a richness of family. Lots of laughter and enjoyment in the warm Nevada weather. Nice lookin’ family!

a few more family members — what a crowd!

My beloved Aunt Nona died in her sleep last week. She was my Dad’s sister and like a real sister to my Mom. The twins (Marjorie and Mom and Aunt Ruth too, I think) all went to college at Stout where they met. It is how Mom met Dad. Aunt Nona and her family have always been close to me. I was the only girl — Nona and Tom Crist had three boys — David, Alan and Peter — and so Nona liked to sew for me!

I loved her very much. Here is a photo taken about a year ago when Bob and I stopped by to visit. She was sleeping in the chair but perked up when we came. She said, “Oh, Judy!”

March 5, 2013

Obituary

Nona Landt Crist, age 92, of Madison and formerly Wisconsin Dells, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, February 06, 2014, Oak Park Place Assisted Living, Madison.  Nona was born on April 22, 1921, in Kilbourn, now Wisconsin Dells, the daughter of Fay Brown Landt and Newton Allison Landt.  She graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in 1939 and earned a bachelor’s degree in science from Stout Institute, now University of Wisconsin-Stout, in 1943 and her master’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1972.  In college she received the Eichelberger Scholarship and served as President of Phi Upsilon Omicron.  She was a retired home economics teacher and taught in Neenah, Wisconsin Dells, Reedsburg, and 18 years in Madison Public Schools.  She served as an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin Dells and Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison.  Nona is survived by sons, David (Patricia), Alan (Marie), and Peter (Diane); nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Barbara Copper and Lu Schweiger; cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Draper Crist, brothers Allison and Eugene Landt and her parents.  Nona loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and all her nieces and nephews.  And most of all she loved the Lord and she is now with her Lord and the love of her life, Thomas (Tom) who has been waiting for his precious Nona for these past twelve years.  A service celebrating Nona’s life will be held at United Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin Dells on Saturday, February 22, 2014 with visitation at the church from 10-11, memorial service from 11-12, internment at 12 at Spring Grove Cemetery with luncheon to follow at the church.  Memorials may be made in her name to the United Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin Dells or Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison.

Today we took a little drive (about 45 minutes) into the Spring Mountains and in that short time transitioned from the dry desert with Joshua Trees, to about 7000 feet with scrubby junipers and pinion pines, and then up the switchbacks another 700 feet to lunch at Mt. Charleston Lodge in the tall pines (Ponderosa, I think),

snow on the mountain

Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Two pickups meet on a dusty, gravel road in the desert.

In one, man in cowboy hat raises a hand.

I think, you have to be friendly out here

You never know when you might need each other.

The visitor center is closed

But there is a lively bus load of middle school kids,

Looks like eighth grade,

Eating their lunch under the roof.

They like George.

One girl asks politely if she can pet the dog.

Park worker wonders what kind of a dog is that.

Our standard answer… we don’t know.

On the trail, suddenly I realize why this place is precious.

Water, pure fresh water in a little stream,

Creates a mini ecosystem of grass, small trees,

And haven for life.

I understand “oasis”

And imagine what it would be like to

Come on horseback, or wagon, or on foot,

And see the little green in the distance

And wonder if I was seeing things

And fall upon this pretty place like heaven.

George seems to sense it

Begs and pulls to go in,

I let him briefly

(I don’t think it is allowed)

But I cannot resist.

He is in heaven too.

desert

oasis

water

explanation of the oasis (my word – they just call it Corn Creek)

The Nuwuvi were the original native people

 It was very quiet there.

We took in dinner and a show at Mirage on the strip. A Beatles Tribute — al la Cirque du Soleil. Very impressive and awe inspiring.

The voices were the original, but the instrumentation was enhanced … wonderful — Beatles through time

scroll down and click on the trailer for LOVE

Judy and Bob at the bar in the Mirage before dinner.

Todd and Ann Marie at Mirage before LOVE show

Todd at the soccer tournament in Vegas — 48+ category. Todd at 49 is one of the young ones.

Cully and Ann Marie before the adult night on the strip.

Cully and the boys load the car to travel back to LA

Cully and Mark prepare for the Mojave Desert crossing back to LA.

Drove out to Red Rock Canyon, National Conservation District, in the Mojave Desert.

Then back to town to a Farmers Market. It was 70 today. I am feeling settled and nested. Tonight Todd and Ann Marie come and on Saturday Cully, Mark and the boys. What bliss. I feel so fortunate for family and this beautiful place. Not really doing any typical Vegas activities except for dinner and a show tomorrow.

Farmer’s Market in Summerlin

I know full well, that other people’s travel logs are a big yawn. But hopefully those we left behind in Minnesota might envy us a little. 😎 It was a grueling trip (need a better plan if we do this again). We left on Monday, Jan 6. It was -19 (not wind chill — actual minus 19 degrees on the thermostat). Here is Bob loading the car in the garage the day before.

And here is the first stop after we passed the freezing point — somewhere a little north of Wichita a day and a half into the trip.

We are happy. I take a deep breath.

Now we are at the continental divide in Arizona. Texas was a bit shabby and depressed looking but all of New Mexico was breathtaking even from the Interstate and Arizona was lovely too.

Overnight in Flagstaff — in the pines. Lovely.

Then a short day over the Hoover Dam and into Vegas — found the Desert Rose vacation home in Summerlin easily — very close to two of Bob’s sons and families.

Here are a few shots for the folks in Minnesota and parts north. 😀

It is light jacket weather – like spring or fall in Minnesota – 60s all this week.

Hot tub and palm tree.

and the elegant house

So — yes our journey was grueling, but I remind myself that it could have been much worse.

Photo on the wall in the house…. previous renter perhaps?

Do come and visit — we are entertaining my side of the family this coming weekend (Todd is playing in a soccer tournament!) and Bob’s whole family — all four children and families will be here on President’s Day weekend — other than that we are open for visits. plenty of room.

My Lakota friend in Greengrass, South Dakota has now completed all her requirements for her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. This is an amazing accomplishment for this woman who takes care of many grandchildren and other relative’s children, has a job as a teacher’s aide in the local elementary school and acts as a mentor and helper to many of her people. She has been working on her degree for many years. Her graduation ceremony will be in June. I am so proud of her! Here is a photo Bob took of the two of us when we took her on a river dinner cruise in Stillwater a few year’s ago.