With this festival, I was forced out of my comfort zone quite a bit. I am a very shy, introverted person, and nerves were amplified as I introduced myself to a community of people whose blogs I admire. However there was no reason to be nervous, as everyone I met was so gracious and welcoming and easy to talk to.
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with Jessica from Comet Over Hollywood |
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with Danny from pre-code.com |
A neat addition to the first outfit I wore on the first day was that I tied one of Ginger's personal scarves into a bow at the top of my ponytail. A group of people touched it for good luck, and I was happy to tell others about this acquisition by showing them photos of her wearing it in the past.
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Ginger in 1992 at the 9th annual American Cinema Awards |
The major Ginger related highlight for me was something I have done multiple times and that was pay her a visit. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows the feeling you get when you bring flowers to their resting place. They may not physically be there, but you still feel a sense that they know you've come and that somehow they are still there in spirit. I may not have known Ginger personally, but that feeling is still there. Life has been a roller coaster for me this past year, so the last time I had made the trip up to Oakwood Memorial was last August. No matter how busy I became at the festival, I was determined to travel an extra 30 or 40 minutes north to Chatsworth to pay my respects. After all, she is the reason I am where I am today. I hadn't visited in so long that after visiting Fred, who was laid to rest in the same cemetery, I was hit with a wave of emotion as I headed down the road to Ginger's plot. She has given me more confidence and inspiration than she will ever know, and the simple act of placing a fresh bunch of roses of various shades of pink on her and mother Lela's shared headstone was something I needed to do. There obviously isn't much I can do to thank her personally, but I hope that wherever her soul may be now, that she is smiling down and knows how much she is still loved by so many today.
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What lovely memories you have made for yourself and for others by sharing Ginger at this year's TCMFF.
ReplyDeleteVisiting Ginger - and Fred - is on my Bucket List. I aree with you on all points@!
ReplyDeleteKerry aka oldhollywoodpangurban on Tumblr and Anonymous_1701 on AO3