JUDY COLLINGS MEMOIR FRANK ABOUT FAMILIAL ALCOHOLISM and DEPRESSION

SWEET JUDY BLUE EYES
MY LIFE IN MUSIC - Judy Collins

I listened to Judy Collin's e-book because she reads it herself: I love hearing the author read their own words and in this case, as in Carly Simon's e-book, previously reviewed here at Mistress Manifesto when I featured James Taylor's Mistress Evie as Mistress of the Month, also sing some songs. In Judy's book she reveals her relationships with Stephen Stills, who wrote the song Sweet Judy Blue Eyes for her during their relationship.  He was several years younger and eventually that was a problem.  More so, she hated LA and went to live in New York City.  They managed to stay friends for four decades and in 2007 a tape of unreleased music from their 1968 affair was discovered and released as "Just Roll Tape."  She's still confused about why Joni Mitchell rebuffed her friendship but is thankful to her for the international hit she had with Joni's song Both Sides Now. She was the first person in popular music to include the song of whales (1962).  As she says she was considered an "overnight success" after many years of showing up.

Judy Collin's life also intersected with Joan and Mimi Baez, Bob Dylan, Lucy and Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Phil Ochs, Janis Joplin, and Stacey Keach - who she had a long relationship with, and many others in the music business. A youthful pregnancy resulted in a beloved son who followed in the footsteps of his mother and mother's father into alcoholism and depression and suicidal thoughts.  In his case he did suicide.  The marriage didn't last.  Years later after finally coming to terms with her alcoholism, Judy Collins did marry again and that marriage has lasted.  She says she had an attraction for the "dangerous ones" who "slipped in and out of other women's lives.

As she came to adulthood and the folk music scene in the 1960's, and to folk music she has been true though she considers her song choices and writing to be eclectic, and was once a member of a group in favor of open relationships and partner sharing as well as a Yippie (like the Chicago Seven), it should perhaps come as no surprise that Collins was a sexual explorer. She had some one night stands when married and touring and fell in love repeatedly.  Her story of driving 16 hours alone in a borrowed car to have an illegal abortion and then breaking down on a moonlit road reminds us that abortion must remain legal.  Another time she was in the car and began confessing to her husband that she was having an affair with another man after they hit a rabbit on the road.

I found her frankness refreshing.  Though no intimate details are given, Collins was no stranger to the Story of O, group sex, sex with women, and a "sexually hip" lifestyle.  (All of which makes me feel downright conservative these days.)  She was ill at times; TB, hepatitis, and voice endangering alcoholism.

So if you love her voice, are a fan of music memoirs, or are battling some demons yourself, you may find this memoir well worth the read.


Missy

C 2018 All Rights Reserved Book Review

QUESTION FOR YOU MEN: HOW LONG DID YOU DATE BEFORE YOU BOUGHT YOUR WOMAN CLOTHING?

Just to clarify this, I don't mean as a birthday or  or Mother's Day gift, and I don't mean scarves and gloves or a  Christmas sweater or a negligee meant to please you if she wears it.  Just about anyone can gift anyone for a special occasion something to wear.  Women often buy their men things like sports team hats and sweats, sweaters, ties and socks as gifts.  I'm talking WARDROBE.  I'm talking handing her at least a couple hundred to go buy what she wants, or going shopping with her, and purchasing some important clothing, so that she'll look wonderful when you take her to a Black Tie event or a Wedding or an outfit for a Job Interview.  Something she could not afford on her own income maybe.


There used to be certain rules or etiquette against buying clothes for someone you are dating, not until you are married to them.  To buy a WARDROBE for someone seems to mean a more serious intent than "just dating."  It's an investment for them.



Missy.

EARLY VEGAS

FRANK SINATRA OFFICIAL SITE

http://www.sinatra.com/


The recent press around Journalist Ronan Farrow, his mother actress and SuperMom Mia Farrow, the MeToo Movement, the arrest of  movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for sexual harassment and rape is hard to ignore.  I bring it up here because I read that Mia, briefly a much younger wife of Frank Sinatra, has said that she and Frank never really stopped having a thing for each other though they divorced, and this has lead to speculation that Rowan is actually the biological son of Frank Sinatra. Certainly he looks like he could be Sinatra's son, the blue eyes and all but some children take after their mothers.  Reading around this subject on the Internet, it seems that Mia hinted Ronan was Frank's son in 2013 and articles have appeared since that are pro and con.  Trying to stay away from publications that are clearly just rumor mills, the question is, did Frank know?  What about his children, such as singer Nancy Sinatra?


EONLINE: NANCY SINATRA SAYS MIA WAS JOKIING: RONAN ISN'T FRANK'S SON


Seems to me DNA testing would provide the revealing information.  But would all those effected be willing to test? Seems like this rumor may go the way of those about Prince Harry's father being James Gilbey rather than Prince Charles.

LUCK BE A LADY TONIGHT - FRANK SINATRA

HOW MUCH RISK IS TOO MUCH RISK? OPINION BY MISSY

QUESTION FOR MISSY:


Dear Missy,
I'm a lawyer and I hate it.  I think I'm here because it was what my mother always wanted me to do.  Now I'm 30 and all I have is my career.  Another lawyer at my firm who is retiring young wants me to quit and travel with him.  I like Bruce and find him attractive but I only know him the way he is at work. He wants to travel but live in Costa Rica. He wants us to learn Spanish and start a little business there, something in tourism.  When he told me all this I was truly surprised. I had no idea Bruce, a top earner, had a thing for me. Thinking about it, I don't know.  If I go, am I just escaping? If I quit, not knowing what else I could possibly do to make a living, am I just risking too much?


Alisha
Massachusetts


ANSWER FROM MISSY:


Alisha, the best way to proceed is to lower the risk.

Such as start getting to know Bruce outside of work.

Such as letting Bruce go ahead to Costa Rica and then visiting him there on a vacation.
Once he is retired and no longer at your workplace, you will feel freer to get to know him.
Tell him that you want to take it slowly.

If you find yourself compatible with Bruce and if you like Costa Rica, then maybe this relationship is on.

If it isn't, consider getting some career counseling because lots of people who have a legal background go do something else, even something else that has nothing to do with the law.
You're intelligent and educated and that counts.


Missy

POKER

MRS. FRANK SINATRA - PHILANTHROPIST

This video is from 2016, which would have been Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday. Barbara Sinatra died in 2017.


BARBARA SINATRA CHILDREN'S CENTER - RANCHO MIRAGE CALIFORNIA
EXCERPT:
The mission of the Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children is to counsel physically, sexually and emotionally abused children, and to focus on prevention, community education and breaking the cycle of generational abuse. No child is ever turned away due to a family’s inability to pay.

—Barbara & Frank Sinatra Founders

Approximately 90% of our budget comes from the generosity of a caring, worldwide community, fundraising events, and charitable organizations. This heartfelt support ensures that children are counseled regardless of a family's ability to pay.

ZEPPO MARX ; THE BUSINESSMAN OF THE COMEDY TEAM

This cover of a special collection put out by Universal shows the Marx Brothers Comedy team, and you probably are familiar with Groucho, the second from the left.  Chico, Groucho, Harpo, and Zeppo Mar - the brother who wasn't part of the act, and the first man who kept Barbara Blakeley and then married her.