2009/04/25

RIP Bea Arthur

DaGoddess @ 22:36

“All this time I’ve just wanted to be blonde, beautiful and 5 feet 2 inches tall.” ~ Bea Arthur

Oh, thank God she wasn’t!

Goodbye, Bea ArthurSome people you believe will be around forever. They’re a part of your pop culture awareness from early on in your life and they’re just there…always.

That was Bea Arthur in many ways. Tough but tender, raspy and rascally, and really, how many other adjectives do I need to add? Caustic wit? Stern but sassy? She was all of that and more.

Even on an early family vacation up the coast of California, Bea Arthur, or rather Maude was with us. Upon finding a dead starfish on the beach, my mom intoned, “God finally got you, Walter.”

Maybe that’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved her…she reminded me of my mom in many ways or my mom reminded me of her. Either way, there was definitely that same sense of strength and humor in my mom that Bea Arthur always portrayed in her roles.

She hit the funny bone time after time. And she could be dramatic as well. But it was comedy where Arthur made her mark. do almost anything for a laugh (click the links, you won’t be sorry). It’d work, too.

Bea Arthur, born Bernice Frankel on May 13, 1922, died today after battling an unspecified form of cancer, only a couple weeks away from her 87th birthday (another brilliant Taurus). I would hope that each of us who have laughed because of her take a moment to thank God for bringing us such a gifted lady.

11 Comments

  1. […] RIP Bea Arthur […]

    Pingback by Daily News About Pop : A few links about Pop - Saturday, 25 April 2009 23:38 — 2009/04/26 @ 01:07

  2. This news makes me cry. I have always loved Bea Arthur, from the first episode of Maude to the very last Golden Girls and everything in between.

    Oh, crap. And you’re right; I expected her to be here forever.

    RIP, Bernice. We love you.

    Comment by Pam — 2009/04/26 @ 06:00

  3. She really does remind me a lot of my mom (can’t necessarily see it so much in this photo, but you can a little). My mom has always been a little sassy, funny, and very strong. She has a singing voice like Bea’s too.

    I had expected Estelle Getty’s passing for a few years, but not Bea’s. And I don’t think I’ll be able to keep it together when Betty White goes. I love her immensely. Rue, too. But mostly Bea and Betty.

    Sigh.

    thank you for being a friend…travel down that road and back again…

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/04/26 @ 06:07

  4. oh darn, I hadn’t heard. I just hate it when we lose the great old souls :rain:

    Comment by patti — 2009/04/26 @ 08:09

  5. I love all the girls, but I most wanted to be Dorothy. Strong, intelligent, loving, funny in a wry way… And I identified most with her because I’m a tall girl, too.

    This sucks. :rain:

    Comment by Pam — 2009/04/26 @ 08:34

  6. It does suck.

    I wanted to be each of them for one reason or another. The perfect blend…

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/04/26 @ 08:37

  7. Beautiful photo of the lovely Bea. Her death saddens me too…

    Comment by Chris — 2009/04/26 @ 08:48

  8. isn’t that a fantastic photo? That’s the sort of portrait I want to be known for…unexpected, casual, but so revealing.

    She will be missed.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/04/26 @ 08:53

  9. She truly was amazing. I’ve been fortunate to have a few women in my life that were a lot like her. Alan’s mom was one. A real firecracker. It’s hard to believe that they’re gone. Like you said, you just feel like they’re going to be here forever. Then, poof! they’re gone.

    I have always hoped that when I pass, I will be remembered as being wise. I’m not so sure that’s gonna happen, but still it is a goal to aim for. If I could achieve one speck of the wit and wisdom that Bea had, I would be happy.

    Comment by DogsDontPurr — 2009/04/26 @ 13:05

  10. Damn! I always liked her. RIP.

    Comment by Jan — 2009/04/26 @ 14:02

  11. Don’t miss this video either!

    Comment by Jan — 2009/04/27 @ 08:17

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