Santa Barbara is getting a wonderful share of rain, and so far, no great mishaps in the city. I missed the rain tremendously when I lived in the desert, so I have not a complaint in the world. My garden is almost at a standstill, and I realize that the timing is correct. A time for it to rest. Except for the morning glory vine which is shooting out in all directions right now! No blooms there for a while, but the azaleas are out, and my camellia tree is filled with crimson blossoms. Otherwise, there is weeding to be done when the rains stop and the ground becomes warm once more. While I’m on the subject of the garden, I received a poem many months ago from Bill DeVoe, which I want to share with you now. I lost it, and just recently found it. My move kind of stirred up many of my files. I love this poem. It is so simple. Just three lines, and it says so very much:

RUTH IN THE FIELD
Seven o’clock in the morning
The screen door slams-
One more flower in the garden.

Bill also sent a puzzle about “Jess-Belle”, a “Twilight Zone” I did, that I want to share with those of you who are trivia buffs. ‘Guess the best place to put it is at the end of this letter, and we can include the answers in the April newsletter.

The Show at the Lobero theater went very well. We had a full house on a rainy night and a most appreciative audience. Really fun. Its been quite a while since I’ve been on stage and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The big event in Palm Springs for the Desert Aids project went very well too. They made a great deal to help in the care and treatment and also medical exploration of HIV/Aids. I was honored to be Hostess, and to have a chance to suggest a moment of quiet for all of us to remember and send love to those friends who have passed, and those who are dealing with this disease each day of their lives. I also was able to announce the award this year which was given to Senator Ted Kennedy. I had not realized he had been co author of the Ryan White Care Bill. Betty Buckley gave of her talent and her concert was phenomenal. What a delight she is, and what an entertainer! Wow! I saw her back stage, and though we had never met before, we both grabbed each other in a bear hug! I have the highest respect for her talent, having seen her in both “Cats”, and “Sunset Blvd”. I never think about the fact that I have been around for a while, or that another actor would know me, and to have her grab me and tell me that she was a big fan of mine lifted my spirits as much as her performance had!

A friend of mine, Harry Hart-Browne is encouraging me to put together a one woman show. He has a show that he does, called “Special Delivery”, on the spiritual track. I’m kind of thinking through a few ideas, and he promises that he will encourage me along the way. I enjoyed the other night at the Lobero, and there are possibilities right here in Santa Barbara where I might be able to try out material. We’ll see. It is hard to find properties that are of interest in TV and film. I have gone in for a couple of meetings that didn’t work out though I came very close. Some of the scenes that come over my FAX make me blush, and I just can’t get myself to go into LA for a meeting for the show involved. “These Great Broads” saddened me greatly. For the life of me, I can’t imagine why those wonderful talented women allowed themselves to be talked into such a vehicle. I know “Times change”.....But do we have to trash ourselves to get a laugh? And is it a laugh of good humor, or embarrassment? I’m not certain. Shock value, I suppose. Most of it falls flat as far as I am concerned. I’m glad I’m not a younger woman trying to support a family and pay the mortgage, dealing with the competition of breast size and nudity clauses. Come to think of it, I did have to discuss nudity for the Jack Nicholson movie I went in to read for. The director asked how I felt about nudity, and I said I thought it was great at home. Now you know, no woman my age is going to do a nude scene! I had gone in to read for the role of Jack’s wife, and then the director asked me to read the other role which was quite mad and fun. The lady dives into a spa with Jack, and they wanted her to be nude! Too bad they couldn’t work around it some how, but I am sure whoever does it will be terrific, and younger and a bit more zaftig than I!

All the different stages of life we go through, hm? Just when we think we’re getting the hang of one stage, along comes a new and perplexing one we’re not quite ready for.

First things first. Let’s take good care of ourselves, mentally, physically, and emotionally. If we do all this, we won’t have time to get in anyone else’s way and we won’t have time to judge one another. Then I guess I wouldn’t have time to write this newsletter either!

I’d better get on my exercise machine, and practice what I preach! Have a great month.