And Then She Said. . .

There are countless  precious moments alone with my grandest granddaughter and as we both age–she is five + and I’m, well, way older, she protects me the way I’ve always cared for her. Today in NY during a torrential downpour, we waited in my car in front of her house hoping the rain would subside. Once in, after mac and cheese and a cup of blueberry apple sauce, her dinner not mine, she asked if I knew how to pirouette and spot. I did although with my new hip, I can’t execute the motion. Instead I improvised comparing the dance to a Taekwando move she’s learned. “Oh, that’s just like Master Yu taught me. So it’s like ballet.”

“In a way, yes. Look at me, turn your shoulders and spin, returning to look at me.” And she did. My heart filled with joy. Another reason for me to live a long life–one hundred and ten, at least.

At last daughter returned. I said goodbye after kisses. She ran, my grandest, green boots on umbrella in hand, after me. “Grans, Grans, hold my hand. I’ll walk you to your car.

What a blessing. She always sends me home with a smile.

 

A Moment With James Kiberd. . .

Actually many moments with Jim Kiberd. We met at the Penguin Repertory Playhouse in Stony Point, NY upstate when director Joe Brancato cast Death of a Salesman. I had the good fortune of playing Linda Loman and James was my son Bif in Arther Miller’s classic play. After that came more plays, friendships grew, young actors moved on and Jimmy became James, well known in daytime drama. We reconnected when I began working ‘under fives’ and background on All My Children.acted in many of the plays with me

What a kick to see my old pal doing so well, painting ties for fans and his UNICEF work. A whole different side of him revealed plus his obvious love for the beautiful Susan Keith.

I worked as the emergency room nurse for a long time until a new casting director came in, reassessed my picture and decided I belonged in a different setting. Show biz . . .a sweet time.

Interesting, the twists and turns of life. My first husband acted with me in many plays at the Penguin Rep. He died suddenly twenty + years ago never to know I’d begin a new career later in life writing Romance/Suspense novels about women who learn to Survive & Thrive. Using my personal experience and knowing humor carries you through tough times, I write and now I have six published books to my credit with Vanilla Heart. Somewhere I believe he’s with me, maybe as I write.

 

http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/Charmaine_Gordon.html

5/19/2013 WEWRIWA

Welcome back to another wonderful Sunday. Wonderful? and why? you may ask. Well we woke up and for me. . .that’s always a plus. Today we meet our heroine, Beth Malone as she reads the note left by her missing-from-the-bedroom husband, Frank.

excerpt in eight:

Dear Lizzie, It’s not you, it’s me because I’ve been uncomfortable in my own skin for a long time and have decided I must make a change in my life. I sold my half of the practice to George. You, dear Lizzie, are well taken care of so call Bruce since he’s my lawyer and has all the papers, investments, and everything you will need to live in comfort including the house. Last but not least, I signed my portion of divorce papers so whenever you’re ready, sign yours and Bruce will take care of it.”

She leaped up—made it to the toilet, retched and with a foul taste in her mouth, Beth returned to the bedroom and stared down at the despicable letter.

 “Oh God. What am I going to do” she shouted to the empty house, “people like us, we don’t divorce, you stupid .” Tears streaming, she pounded her chest with the letter, crumpled it into a ball and flung it across the room.

She tore sheets from the bed not caring if they ripped to shreds and stuffed them in the laundry chute where they’d land in the basement; imagined Frank stuffed in the chute, hurtling into the mouth of certain doom.

http://www.wewriwa.com

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283 – one of the first ibookbuzz book club selections http://bit.ly/pfjmjshttp://www.amazon.com/Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

A Moment With Susan Lucci. . .

A call came in with the casting director from All My Children. I’d never worked on the show. She said, “Charmaine, this won’t hurt you and it might be very good.. Take it.” Of course I grabbed the job with no idea what she meant until I got on set. Arriving at the studio I saw Ms. Lucci all 5’1” of her in high heels all ready at 7:a.m. and looking glamorous. Smiling at everyone like no other star of daytime drama. All the stars came in w/o make-up and never talked to anyone but their own kind. Except at Another World–but that’s another story.

I shared a dressing room with a pretty starlet getting a chance at a scene. Fun. Then came the explanation for my part de jour. A scene in the jail. My uh, husband, stage name Woody, was incarcerated and I was visiting. Erika Kane-better known as Susan Lucci Ms Daytime TV herself, was playing out a poignant scene with her current lover also in jail. I glanced at her with longing to be like her, free of my situation with jailbird crook hubby. Ah the drama of it all. CUT and Take, the director called and the moment ended.

I worked on the show many times for several years. Next time, I’ll tell more of my soap years.

The lovely Susan Lucci

Thank you Wikipedia for the picture.

A Moment With The Apple Tree and Me. . .

 

Thank you, Wikipedia

 Long ago in a small theater in Nyack, NY, The Elmwood Playhouse, before I dreamed of working professionally as an actor, a casting call went out for a workshop.  The Apple Tree directed by Jane Hunt. I showed up and read. Later Jane said she had pictured Eve dewy eyed, innocent and blond. I had dark hair, dark eyes and many children. I got the part.  A fine experienced actor Terry by name played the part of Adam. Richard Hunt, Jane’s son and one of the original Jim Henson’s Muppeteers would be the snake.  He never came to rehearsals. Opening night, I said I would follow his movement in the dance and I did. We were a great team.

At home I still sing the charming songs recalling every word and the joy in being a part of a special performance.

Synopsis

The Diary of Adam and Eve

In the first story, Adam awakes to find that he is required to name all of the animals. He names them simply: flyers, swimmers and crawlers. He enjoys being the “sole and single man” on Earth. Then, he meets Eve, the “long haired creature”, in the garden. Eve greatly enjoys her time “Here in Eden”, and begins to name everything with more detailed names: cows, ducks, horses, etc. Adam becomes annoyed with Eve and she hurts his feelings when he discovers that she thinks she is superior to him. Eve doesn’t think that Adam appreciates her and he makes her feel put out, but she begins to have some “Feelings” for him. Adam builds a shelter for himself, but when he sees Eve sitting in the rain he invites her in, where she immediately begins redecorating which Adam hates. Although Adam is annoyed, he too begins to have Feelings for “Eve.” The two get into another argument, this time about cutting the grass around their house. After the fight, Adam storms away and Eve decides to go to a pond, where she thinks her reflection is someone just like her and that they are best “Friends”. Soon, a snake appears. It seems to know everything, and tells Eve that she can know everything, too, as long as she eats the apples from the tree over the hill – the tree that Adam told her was forbidden. The snake tells her that Adam is wrong and that the apples are not “Forbidden Fruit”. She eats an apple, but suddenly Adam realizes that something has happened to his “Beautiful, Beautiful World”. Once the couple is out of Eden, they become closer. They now need each other more and have come to tolerate each other’s weaknesses. Soon, Eve has their f.irst child, Cain, but Adam thinks that “It’s a Fish”. Eve sings the baby a “Lullaby”, and soon they have another son, Abel. After the boys grow up, Cain kills Abel and Eve reflects on her life, including her feelings for Adam. She tells Adam that she wants the two of them to die together, or at least have her die first because she needs him more than he needs her (to which he protests). She then reflects on “What Makes Me Love Him”. Eve dies and Adam, who always hated flowers, begins to water her garden, because she loved the flowers so much.

If you ever have a chance to see the Apple Tree, please do and think of me. Thanks, Charmaine

5/12/13 WEWRIWA

Hi, friends and writers. This week I’m  exploring my beginning with Vanilla Heart Publishing with my first book To Be Continued.

Elizabeth Malone wakes up the morning after an amazing night of passion with her husband of forty years to find a note: “Dear Lizzie, it’s not you, it’s me.”
Abandoned by her husband, disappointed in daughter Susie’s casual attitude – ‘Dad’s having a mid-life crisis’, Beth decides to re-establish herself as the winner she once was.
When Frank Malone returns, he’s in for a big surprise!

                                                              Chapter 1

Sun sneaked through blinds,  her eyes shut tight not quite ready to open.

Elizabeth Malone wanted to revel in memories of the great sex she and Frank, her husband of forty years, had last night,  at his insistence, for God sake.  She practically had to seduce him before they did it anymore; was on the verge of suggesting those little blue pills the girls talked about, when out of nowhere he became amorous.  And it was great no, wonderful

Fingers crept along the sheets searching for her mate and groped to where Frank could was to be found

            most early mornings except on golf days or scheduled surgery.

Turning she called his name,  saw an envelope lying on top of the pillow.  A smile tugged at the corners

                                           of her mouth and she sat up.  

With care, one long polished nail sliced through the envelope.  The nail snagged on an edge and broke.  “Shit.        Nothing was going to spoil the moment because this was the first letter from Frank in all the years of

                      togetherness and she planned to keep it.  She withdrew the letter.

           Stumbling off the bed, letter clutched in her hand, she groped for reading glasses, found them, 

                           dropped them, on hands and knees patting the carpet, found them again. 

                            Naked on the floor, she read.

www.wewriwa.com

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7283 – one of the first ibookbuzz book club selections http://bit.ly/pfjmjshttp://www.amazon.com/Be-Continued-Charmaine-Gordon/dp/1935407430

A Moment With Robin Williams. . .

The call came from a casting agent who had seen me in one too many soaps as a nurse. Saturday Night Live had a sketch about to be shot with Robin Williams as the over-anxious father in the delivery room. He was to use a camcorder to record the birth of his first baby. Picture this: Waiting in the outer room sat Robin Williams and his agent, very tan just in from CA and several underlings plus me, the nurse, white cap, uniform, clipboard and all. The wife, played by a techie who laid on a gurney, legs spread apart, camera between her legs filming the star as he made up his own script. The scriptwriter, off to the side, half hysterical because the scene he slaved over was thrown out the window by Mr. Williams. Show biz. No one dared say a word.

But-and here’s the big BUT-when the baby-a doll was hah, hah, born, no one knew what to do except me, the little nurse who had so many children she lived in a shoe. I said, “You need a white cheesy substance called vernix that covers newborn babies. If it’s a quick shot, cottage cheese might suffice.”

“Cool.” Someone produced a package from the refrigerator, smeared it on the doll, and the shot was taken. Done. One take. Did I get a little something extra for brilliance. Uh, NO. Not even thanks. All in a day’s work.