View From Hotel
I’m here for various events on behalf of my non-profit, The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, and to see my daughter and grandkids. It’s been rainy and cold but still, as always, Atlanta is a warm and friendly place and I love being back and seeing so many friends and colleagues
That's Margaret Mitchell's house down there, seen from my Atlanta hotel window. Mitchell wrote "Gone With the Wind" and her home is an historic monument
Kris Spain, a business woman who is on our board of directors, opened her home to forty women who came to hear me speak about our work and my new book, “Prime Time.”
A nice dog lover offered to hold Tulea (yes, I brought her with me!) while I spoke. There was even a woman who had a coton de Tulear from the same breeder in Montreal that I bought Tulea from. I think they’re cousins in fact! What a small world.
Yesterday we had a similar luncheon with 20 women at Ginny Brewer’s home and it was a very moving event for me. There were a number of women I hadn’t seen in a long time, women I had gotten to know quite well before I moved away. Some had been to my ranch and fished with me in times gone by. As I spoke of my own experiences with love and divorce and learning through pain, I saw tears of recognition and realized that in the almost three years that I’ve been away, many of their lives have changed as well. Marriages have ended and the scary questions of “what do I do now? Who am I now? Will anyone ever love me again,” are very present in their lives just as they have been in mine in years past. One thing we all had in common was the realization of the importance of our women friends. What would we do without each other? I reminded them how lucky women are to have such intimate relationships to get us through. This is something that is much harder for men. Yes, men have their buddies and they talk about sports and cars and whatever, but intimacy, the sharing of deep emotions and empathy comes harder for most men.
We had a wonderful board of directors dinner last night but I could feel myself getting sick. In fact, after coming all this way, I wasn’t able to attend our board meeting today. I’m feeling better now, though and pretty certain I’ll be able to bring my grandchildren to see “Cavalia” tomorrow, the show with horses and then have dinner with my daughter and son-in-law, and take everyone to see “Hugo.” I’ve already seen it and absolutely loved it—but not in 3-D– so that’s what we’ll do tomorrow night. Then I’m going to my ranch to try and finish up my new books about adolescent sexuality and, relationships.
At "Cavalia" in Atlanta with my grandkids. Amazing space. Space age big top!
Approaching the big tent in mid town Atlanta to see Cavalia's new show, Odysseo
The poster
I thought it was even better than the first Cavalia. Not only were there the amazing horses (many breeds, not just the white Arabs shown here though they are my favorite), but extraordinary acrobats, eleven of them from Guinea—all cousins I was told—and a vast, panoramic set that became the steppes of Russia, the plains of Africa, melting snow, many settings that had richness and texture.
After Cavalia, I took my grandkids to meet my daughter and son-in-law to have dinner at the Buckhead diner and then we saw "Hugo" in 3-D which was a hit with everyone. The lead boy, Hugo, reminds me of my grandson, Malcolm.
Becky O.
Dear Sweet Jane, (you don’t have to post, this is for you) – I just love your updates, the conversational way in which you write, and how even with all your worldly experiences, you still take the time to marvel at the little things (I do that a lot, too). You do realize that Vanessa and I were switched at birth, right? Or perhaps we’re oddly spaced twins (I’m 45). Your OTHER grandkids live in Colorado, and the eldest takes to the main stage in March. Sorry you haven’t been feeling well. It’s probably just a little smackdown from God that you’re trying to do too much. So, LISTEN to your body and mind when their fuses run low. I do hope you’ll swing through with a really big cup of coffee sometime soon. Would love to visit when things calm down. Thanks for your guiding light and fun updates. Much love to you and the kiddos, Becky
janet morgan
Jane your spirit of optimism is good for ones soul.Just finished your book.
Timothy Dougherty
Hello Jane,
Wonderful photos, hope your feeling better, back at the ranch. I did see HUGO myself, enjoyed very much. On Writing your book on adolescent sexuality and, relationships, A area I understand. With my degrees in Child Development and Educational Technology, a suject that need addressing. I have sent a copy of my Book (Manuscript format, some 30 chapters and 200pp) and final draft film script as well, to your agent at CAA. Why? The subject of adoescet relationships are covered, and the current problems bullying students that are differnt, or not the mainstream. They are in PDF files, I understand what a busy human being you are but I know it is a subject of interest to both of us. I was also looking at your input with a forward to the Book. Anyways that is my input to the suject, I let the book do the talking.
with love and and care,
SusanK
I love the that Margaret Mitchell’s house has been preserved amongst high rises all around. History can be found in the oddest places! I wonder if they give tours of the home.
The show, “Cavalia”, looks amazing! I have never heard of it. Is that water the horses are running through? I’m guessing the music is impressive to go along with the show.
I’m very happy that Hugo is nominated for Best Picture! What a beautifully done movie.
By the way, I can’t wait for you to finish one of your other books!
Nancy Shockley
Jane, I am 57 years old and started your exercise DVDs 5 weeks ago. I alternate through 3 of them and do so 6 days a week. By the 4th time I was already feeling better. Today on campus one of my colleagues noticed that I was standing straighter, my face is thinning out and I look better. This was the first day I noticed that my core was feeling stronger and I was standing and sitting straighter. I know how important posture and balance are to you. Thank you! I have lost my taste for sweets and am sleeping better. Have more energy for teaching 7 classes a week at our community college. I love my mornings with Jane! I cannot thank you enough for your strength, dedication and support of all of us. It is infectious. Nancy
Jane Prettyman
I write tonight because it occurred to me that since you were once a nearly daily ballet class attendee and ballet seems to have greatly influenced the way you carry yourself (beautifully) that you might know the ballet scene well enough to have heard of or seen a dancer, originally born and trained in Cuba, named Riolama Lorenzo. She has been principle dancer for the Pennsylvania Ballet in Philly and before this at the NY City Ballet working with Ballanchine, Robbins, et al, a magnificent dancer who is now retiring at the peak of her career (to be with her two small kids and husband). Her last stage appearance is on Sun Feb 12 at 2pm (plus a few performances in the days just before that), in case your travels might take you anywhere near Philly on one of her final dancing days. This is someone you should meet someday, even if you don’t see her dance.
Here’s the PA Ballet phone# to call for ticket info and times: (215) 893-1955
Website: http://www.paballet.org/
(Look for “Pushing Boundaries,” the main title for two works one of which is “Keep” in which she appears), Feb 9-12.
Here’s link to a nicely done (short) video about the choreography of “Keep,” a work created especially for her which she’ll perform in her last appearances leading up to Feb 12.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6doR9IZQryY
Here’s link to a news video (short) about her retirement that features some of her moves:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/video?id=8503086
Maybe you have enough influence to wangle a DVD of the performance of “Keep” for a small price and convince PA Ballet to make it available to the public to benefit the PA Ballet, esp now that Riolama is retiring.
FYI, I’m the woman who showed up at your book-signing in Santa Barbara a few years ago with the original typescript of Hellman’s “Julia” which I shepherded through the presses at Esquire. We had no time to talk then but I wanted to tell you that (as you know) you’re so unlike Lillian Hellman in so many ways but you played the role of the *character* of Hellman which was not really like the real Hellman, if you follow what I’m saying (“Pentimento”). To make “Julia” work on screen took a performance from you that could capture Hellman’s anger and turn it into a focused and crusading passion for a cause in the *character* of Hellman, which you, as a great actress, pulled off amazingly well. But that wasn’t my favorite film. “Klute,” “Coming Home” and “Comes a Horseman” (loved your androgyny contrasted to “Barbarella” which also loved) — these take the cake for me.
I live in Philly now, just retired, and love this city.
Thank you for your benevolent and generous life.