Sunday Post: Splendid

Jo Bryant,

Jake’s Sunday Post theme this week is SPLENDID.

The following definition I found led me to what I want to post for this theme.

splen·did [splen-did] adjective

1.gorgeous; magnificent; sumptuous. Synonyms: luxurious, dazzling, imposing. Antonyms: squalid.
2.grand; superb, as beauty. Synonyms: majestic, elegant, first-rate.
3.distinguished or glorious, as a name, reputation, victory, etc. Synonyms: renowned, famed, famous, illustrious, eminent, conspicuous, celebrated, remarkable, brilliant; noble. Antonyms: ordinary, unremarkable, mediocre; ignoble.
4.strikingly admirable or fine: splendid talents. Antonyms: modest, poor.
5.excellent, fine, or very good: to have a splendid time.

So here is my definition of splendid – in honour of the 50th anniversary of her passing.
There has been much speculation over Marilyn’s life and her death to this day. I recently read about the disappearance of the F.B.I. files J.Edgar Hoover had on her and it saddened me that this has become her legacy as much as her work is.
Not so long ago I saw My Week With Marilyn .with Michelle Williams portraying the legend.
Not an easy task as Marilyn herself would probably agree. I was blown away (yes it is cliche…but it describes the feeling perfectly) by Michelle’s performance. At times I felt like I was watching Marilyn herself.
Marilyn is splendid to me. A movie star in every curve of every letter of those words. Yet she was more complicated that what we saw on screen.
She was also the woman who stood up for Ella Fitzgerald. When Ella was not booked to sing at a popular nightclub because of her race, Marilyn stepped in herself:
“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt,” Ella later said. “It was because of her that I played the Mocambo, a very popular nightclub in the ’50s. She personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him – and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status – that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.” (Sourced from The Official Website of Ella Fitzgerald)
These types of actions and the mesmerizing dance she performs between herself and the person watching her on screen are what I choose to think of when I hear her name.
I am grateful that we had her at all.
And to Marilyn I wish to say: “I am so very sorry that the actions of some of us broke you.”
***
I AM HAVING SOME CRAZY COMPUTER ISSUES.
1. I CANNOT VISIT CERTAIN WEBPAGES – INCLUDING BLOGS. HALF OF THE TIME I CANNOT VISIT MY OWN BLOG – Grrrrrrrrr
2. CAN’T DOWNLOAD
3. CAN’T SEE IMAGES AS OF FIVE MINUTES AGO.
SO PLEASE DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY IF I DON’T VISIT YOUR BLOG AT THE MOMENT.
I AM TRYING.
WELL WE ALL KNEW THAT – BUT I AM TRYING TO FIX IT.
***

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

58 Comments

  2. I was a little disappointed initially, because after seeing the title and definitions, I immediately thought it was going to be about me. Simple and obvious mistake really. Marilyn was an excellent second choice though, nicely done. 😉

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  3. We just watched “My Week With Marilyn” last Friday and enjoyed it very much. Thanks for this look back. It is hard to believe that it happened 50 years ago. I still remember when I heard the news.

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    1. Glad you liked it. I was almost four when it happened so I don’t remember her but I do remember Sunday afternoons watching her on the TV…she was great to watch. Then and now.

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  4. I too read up on Marilyn recently and was really disturbed to know that wire tap wiring was found all over her house. Her death remains a mystery to this day. Those files are gone forever but her legacy as a beautiful, intelligent, huge-hearted bomb shell reminds us not to judge a book by its cover.
    So glad Jake’s word brought me to your door, Lesley

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    1. So glad you stopped by – that is awful that her house was full of wires…but not surprising seeing how paranoid everyone was back then over the “Russky” threat. She was so much more than just her looks – we forget that so often about a myriad of people.

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  7. Beautiful Marilyn and great post on her…on your computer issues, have you checked with your server to see if you have gone over your download capabilities? Sometimes, if one reaches max or almost overload on download time, the server company will slow your speed time down to almost nothing and getting things to load etc. gets very difficult. If a site has a lot of graphics and videos, that also eats up download time. Hope you find the cure, Jo…thanks for the post. 🙂

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    1. Thanks !! No it isn’t the download capabilities. I think it has something that has to do with a plugin…not one I purposely downloaded from Google.

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  9. This is perfect for Splendid! I haven’t seen the latest movie yet but I keep meaning to. I wish you luck with your computer. They are so nice, until they break and then nothing but frustration. I’ve found that randomly pushing buttons and hitting it usually don’t help the situation. It might feel good though 🙂

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    1. Do watch the movie…it is great. I am not sure what is happening with the computer…sometimes it works…other times all I get is zip…grrrrrrrrr

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  13. Splendid does seem to have so many meanings, doesn’t it? I like your take Jo. I especially loved the story about Marilyn and Ella Fitzgerald…great stuff…Haven’t seen the movie yet, but heard that Michelle was great!

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  16. a great post Jo, and so well put together.. My own thoughts echo those of your own. I think there were and still are many things which happen behind the scenes to do with politics where those have met untimely deaths, including Mr President himself.
    Its not always those in Power, but those who pull the strings… as the Puppets dance to the scripts of their own Movies..

    Wishing you well Jo and you are not on your own with problems I have heard of others WP uses with similar issues. Hope all is cured soon..
    Love Sue xx

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  19. Great photos, Jo!

    My favorite Marilyn conspiracy theory is the one laid out in Robert Anton Wilson’s hilarious Illuminatus Trilogy! He tied her in with the Discordianists and other conspiracy stories!

    My favorite movie of hers is the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, though I was always more into Jane Russel in that flick than Marilyn.

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  21. Pingback: Sunday Post : Splendid « restlessjo

  22. This is a lovely tribute to Marilyn Monroe. Your description shows her gentle
    and sensitive spirit. You captured those statues so beautifully. She was a better
    representation of what a woman’s body should look like. Very nice …!!!
    Isadora
    P.S. I have a page moving issue so I totally understand your frustrations. ~~~~ : – O

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    1. There are always issues Isadora. So happy you enjoyed this. I loved it when I read about what she did for Ella. And yes that was how a woman’s body should look.

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