Tallulah Bankhead

photo: Tennesee Williams & Tallulah Bankhead

"There is always going to be pain in life, baby. Suffering is optional."

- Tallulah Bankhead,

from Matthew Lombardo's play "Looped" starring Valerie Harper.

I LOVED this line! I have quotes pasted on the walls of my office. I must put this one up!

Here's an Interview on National Public Radio with Valerie Harper about LOOPED. I wish I could have seen this play when it was in Pasadena earlier this year. It's in Washington D.C. right now, and is expected to go to Broadway in the Fall. Hmm...road trip to NYC with my Jet Blue frequent flyer miles...sounds like a plan.

Whenever I hear the name Tallulah Bankhead, I think of Key West. During a few visits some years ago to research a yet-unsold paranormal, DH and I stayed at an out-of-the-way B&B called "Authors" run by two older gentleman. Gary and... damn...David? Steven? No, Charles!

Gary was a retired editor for Simon & Schuster with memories of "little Carly" (Simon) dropping by the offices to visit her father. His partner Charles was an art dealer when they semi-retired to Key West. I think they have since sold the B&B and opened up an art gallery. Gary was gregarious and fun, insisting that I write him as a bad-ass murderer. Charles was soft-spoken and sweet with a charming Southern drawl. They'd been together since college.

Art pieces adorned the B&B garden, and more filled up their private living room. And I do mean "filled." Charles brought out their most prized possession -- a genuine Jackson Pollock painting. I were ignorant of the famous artist at that time. But Charles did not make me feel foolish. He was the quintessential gentleman.

From a well-to-do Southern family, Charles was the god-son of Tallulah Bankhead, whose father and grandfather were well-known Alabama politicians. Charles regaled us with his memories of her in Key West with Tennessee Williams. Was he filling us with a bunch of bunk? I didn't care. He was such a delightful storyteller that I was (and still am) willing to believe every bit of it.

For a few minutes while listening to the radio interview, I was back in Key West. God, that was a wonderful escape. DH and I decided it's time to return to the Keys. Maybe we can track down Gary and Charles while we're there.