“Imagination is a good thing to have, because without it, life can be pretty tough sometimes.” — a little girl on the news, in line for the Harry Potter book
Colossians 1:16-17
I also want to say, rest in peace, Tammy Faye [Bakker] Messner. I lived and went to college near the whole PTL Club/Heritage USA adventure, in its heyday. I was always fascinated by her. Mostly the makeup. The giant little girl that seemed to be behind the mascara-colored tears. I don’t know what she did or didn’t do financially. I often thought that she probably didn’t, either. I found her endearingly enigmatic. Most people who wear tons of makeup, I view as trying to hide. She wore the tons of makeup and then always accessorized with her heart right there on her sleeve. So I don’t think she was hiding. I think she just wanted to look and feel pretty.
I always admire and enjoy people who seem to have taken the risk of becoming fully who they were put here to be. I think there are relatively few of them on earth at any given time. I also am instantly attracted to anyone who can laugh at themselves. Just a couple of days before Tammy Faye died, I saw her on Larry King, in pain, weighing 65 pounds, in full makeup and with a giant smile. A viewer email asked her what she would most like to be remembered for. She said, “My eyelashes.” After a giggle that shook her fragile frame, she amended that to, “My walk with the Lord.”
Over the years, the giant little girl showed herself to be a woman of depth, courage, faith and tremendous love and kindness, most notably to those whom some other “Christians” don’t show so much love and kindness. Go with God, Tammy Faye.
I’d never thought of Tammy Faye that way. What a wonderful sendoff you’ve given her.
And I’ve lived my life according to that little girl’s quote. Must have an imagination. And, of course, I’ve finished my Harry Potter book.
Happy Sunday, sis!
I never thought much about Tammy Faye–I was a kid when most of that stuff went down. The “claim to fame” where I lived was that Jim was put in the prison where my stepmother’s brother was a guard.
But I saw Tammy Faye on Larry King, and I was touched by her too. I hope I can have that much courage and good humor when I’m in her shoes someday.
Thought of you yesterday . . . we drove through your area on our way to NC. If I’d been thinking, we could’ve tried to meet for lunch. Oh well–next time.
Happy Sunday!
Seriously, how do you do it? You have such compassion for people …you are always making me think that I am such a jerk because I never think the way about people that you do.
Amazing.
I agree: without imagination, life could be rather rough and sometimes quite dull.
Susie, that is an excellent eulogy for Tammy Faye. What you have written is the best I’ve read since her death.
And on the seventh day, she rested.
I always am drawn to the people that others write off as “crazy”. There’s always a story there, and usually a person just doing their best to get through life, which can be quite a feat on its own. I hope that we can all keep a sense of humor like hers in the end.
Happy Sunday, Susie.
Yes, I watched Tammy Faye’s last interview with Larry King and was riveted. Regardless of what she knew or didn’t know about the PTL finances, I believe she did her best to serve the Lord afterward in her own way (chiefly by loving societal outcasts). I think she felt burdened for the soul of Larry King (a self-proclaimed agnostic), among others. It was very touching to watch her witness to him with such a loving spirit.
My favorite quote about big hair and big makeup came from Dolly Parton: “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap!”
Beautiful my friend. Beautiful.
I remember seeing shirts saying, “I just ran into Tammy Faye” that looked like her makeup smeared all over it. The eyelashes are what I’ll most remember her for.
I always felt a certain kinship with her for one, teensy reason: my middle name is Faye, too. Nevermind that I’ve always hated it, I just assumed she hated it too. I love your words here, sis; almost as much as I love you.
What a wonderful tribute. I happen to love Tammy Feye because I do believe that she has a good heart. I am glad she isn’t in pain anymore.
I never felt one way or the other about Tammy F., except that I did notice the heavy make-up, and have to admit, it crossed my mind that it was symbolically kind of a “cover up.”
I love it that you can put such a different perspective on things, Susie. Yes, she obviously felt prettier with all of that make-up on, and if you look at it that way, it’s no different from the way people dress or fix their hair. It’s a way of saying “This is who I am,” and “This is how I feel good about myself.” So maybe we all need to stop staring and comparing and judging the book by its cover. I missed that Larry King interview, and now I wish I had seen it.
You should do the Sunday sermons at your church.
Your post amazed me Susie.
I second exactly what William said, and Ortizzle’s comment about how “… we all need to stop staring and comparing and judget the book by its cover…”
I’m not feeling very eloquent today…
Love you Susie.
Bravo on the Tammy Fae tribute.
xx
pinks
Well, others have echoed my thoughts…but bravo for showing us the flip side of the coin. Happy Sunday, Susie. Glad you’re posting so frequently!
I don’t see her exactly as you do, Susie, but I have always liked her, too. And yes, perhaps she was a giant little girl.
I love your photography very much, Susie. It’s just perfect.
Wonderful post, susie. Always with the thinking! Me likey.
squirl, thank you. I just emailed someone that I am always on the lookout for, and have an admiration for, those who “finish well.” I think she did.
And you’re a fast reader!
shawkey, I hope for that much courage and good humor, too. On my last day, or any old day. Now would be good
We live close enough that I have no doubt we’ll get together one of these days, before too long.
william, what a bizarre comment (you know I love you). I don’t think I’ve ever felt so good about being told I made someone feel like a jerk
And thank you.
ssnick, yep, imagination and humor. Don’t want to imagine what we’d do without them. And thank you, Nick.
umutha, amen. I read that she was cremated and “handled” in the way she wanted to be. She actually died a day before it was announced. And in a couple of weeks, there will be a big party for her, which is what she wanted. I much prefer a party to a funeral.
ern, yep, I second all of that. Happy Sunday to you, too.
katy, I was always drawn to her spirit, even in the Pass the Loot days. Your quote reminds me of one I’ve seen attributed to Tammy Faye, “Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean you have to be dowdy!” Or tasteful
aw, thanks, traci.
mrtl, the thing is, she probably had one of those shirts. The eyelashes really were pretty unforgettable.
shari faye, I love you; and I will need to call you Shari Faye, now, at least on occasion, because it sounds Hillbillian, which makes me feel closer to you
kranki, yes, a good heart, I do believe. And I’m glad she’s free from that body, too.
ortizzle, yea, and that’s part of what she was able to do that many other evangelicals weren’t — people with tattoos, piercings, etc., were fine by her. Perhaps just because of what you articulated here — she got that people are trying to say something about who they are, or who they’d like to be, by their appearance. I’ll bet if you go to CNN you could see at least some of that interview.
Before WTF, I actually did do sermons occasionally when our pastor was on vacation. I hope I can again, some day. I liked to do that. In the meantime, I have this little church here
ck, so you’re bizarre like William, and I love you, too. xxx
thanks, pinks.
atm, thank you. There are many sides to most coins or at least to most people and their stories.
lynn, yea, there’s a lot more I could say about her, but I decided not to go on too much. Thanks for the kind words about my pix.
htgt, yea, well, you’re always with the thinking, too.
Now how did I totally miss this news until I read it here (very belatedly)?
I didn’t know much about Tammy Faye until after the whole PTL thing blew up, but I always loved the way she could laugh at her own image. She seemed like a genuinely good person under the pancake and mascara.