JoAnn’s Matinee Bar

Today’s the birthday of a lady with panache close to my heart—my mother, JoAnn. In the early 1960’s she owned a nightclub called The Matinee Lounge.
Above: My mother posing on the hood of a customer's car in The Matinee parking lot, circa 1960.

The Matinee was a destination club out in the boonies, as the advertisement below said—“Just drive out west...until you run out of gas.” It was a stand-alone building in the middle of nowhere, west of Denver, going towards the mountains.

Above: An old newspaper advertisement, it was very faded and I tried to darken it so the type is more legible. The tagline "The poor man's Belmont" is in reference to another niteclub/lounge that was downtown at an upscale hotel.

The Matinee was torn down years ago—I think it’s an office park now. People went there because of my mom’s personality, and the vibe she created at the club. The Matinee was fun, warm, elegant, and a bit glamorous—just like my mom.

Above: The "uniform" dress my mother is wearing in this photo is very “Moulin Rouge,” with layers of pink and amber velvet. She had them made for the staff, and years later her dress became a regular Halloween costume for the girls in my family.

My mother was one of those ladies with panache that lit up a room. All of the gentlemen customers had a crush on her (including my dad), and all of the ladies wanted to be her friend. When my parents got married, her club ownership days ended, but they still shared a love for jazz (read here). Years later, when we would attend bars and clubs together, she would critique the establishment, usually about how they were losing money and not properly managed.

Above: A worn yellow matchbook, with silver foil printing. The tagline makes me laugh—"Where smart people meet."

She was a night bird that loved parties. Running a club suited her personality well—it was like hosting a party every night. My mother had a big heart, and everyone felt like she was their best friend.

Above: My mother (center) behind the bar.

The club’s exterior was painted pink, and the inside was 1960’s “Las Vegas” lounge style—dark-but not too dark, a circular bar, with tables and booths. Some evenings there would be live music and dancing—coats and ties were required for the gents. In the summertime she would make mint juleps with the mint that grew outside, behind the bar.

Above: My mom (at right) posing and having a laugh with the girls.

Her staff was all ladies, and many became life-long friends. My mom designed the uniforms, and frequently changed them up—sometimes dresses, other times Capri pants and blouses...whatever inspired her. She would buy apparel items, or sketch out outfits she had in mind, and have her tailor custom make "uniforms".

My mom and Nancy, a life-long friend of my mother’s—and one of the last gals still around from The Matinee, besides my mom.

Above: An old polaroid of my mother posing atop a booth at JoAnn's Matinee Lounge. I sort of like the the gold patina over the photo, from the old chemicals in the polaroid.

My mother was very particular about the atmosphere of the club, and how the drinks were made—both had to be perfect. She would appreciate the new generation of “mixologists” who strive to craft the perfect cocktail.

Above: Stag sandwiches for $1.00!

If you have a cocktail this weekend, a coat and tie isn't required (but nice), make a toast to the previous generations of cocktail aficionados. I'll be toasting my mom!

It's a Good Day—Miss Peggy Lee

Around 1990, when I worked at a weekly newspaper, I liked to listen to a local oldies Am radio station while I designed the layouts. The station, which is now defunct, played American standards and jazz—think Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, and Peggy Lee (above c. 1956). My dad would listen to a similar oldies station while driving his car, when I was a kid, so that music is very comforting to me.


One day, on a lark, I called the radio station when they announced a trivia question to win a pair of tickets to see Peggy Lee in concert. I don’t remember what the trivia question was, but I won those tickets!

I queried my friends to find someone to accompany me to the show—either they weren’t interested in seeing Peggy Lee, or had previous plans (the Folsom Fair was the same day as the concert). I ended up going to the show by myself, and had to take a bus for about 45 minutes, to what seemed like the middle of nowhere, out in the suburbs of San Francisco.


The bus was running late, and I was worried I would miss the beginning of the show—and there was no warm-up act. I walked into the theater, which was a tiered half-circle with maybe 1000 seats—and it was less than half full. I couldn't believe it—I thought it would be sold out. The audience was a mix: dressed-up older couples, some gay men, a handful of hipster kids, and a couple of drag queens. The band, about 10 or 12 guys, came out on stage and began warming-up. Then the lights dimmed and a male voice boomed over the sound system, “Ladies and gentlemen—Miss Peggy Lee.”

Above: Peggy Lee in her dressing room, before a show, c. 1990.

A spotlight appeared on the side of the stage...and Miss Lee was in a wheel chair, being pushed out to the center of the stage, by an assistant. It was rather surreal—and just a few yards away from where I was sitting. She was wearing a sparkly sequined outfit with her signature platinum wig, and a large sparkly rhinestone decoration (brooch?) on top of her hair...and a huge bunch of balloons fastened to the handles of her wheelchair. She was sparkling like firecracker, and brought the whole theater to life.

She took the microphone and looked out at all of the empty seats and said, “How about everyone squeeze in, and come closer.” So everyone crowded together down in the front section, and she began her first song. I literally had goose bumps hearing this legend perform! Like a good wine, her voice had aged, but was still wonderful—and thousands of times better than many young pop songbirds today.


Above: I'm a woman, with Johnny Cash.

She sang all of her hits and many cover songs: Fever, Manana, I’m a Woman, and my favorite—Is That All There Is? Between songs, she told stories and chatted with the audience, and even allowed the audience to ask questions.

Tony Bennett said, "Peggy Lee was the female Frank Sinatra...she was the epitome of popular jazz singing and a wonderful songwriter as well." Quoted from the Chicago Tribune, 1/23/02

What a performer! This lady with panache entertained us for almost 3 hours, and was so charming, funny and warm. At the time, she was involved in a lawsuit with Disney (they ripped her off for the songwriter royalties for the song, Lady and the Tramp), but still made funny references to the case, without naming names.

k.d. lang said, "She represents an era that is leaving us, one where vocals were king, and I honestly can't think of a better vocalist in that jazz-pop crooning style. What made her so good was that she interpreted and delivered songs with such a complex and dense range of emotions." Quoted from Time magazine, 1/27/02

Peggy Lee was a Gemini, born on May 26, 1920. This elegant and glamorous woman was a singer, songwriter, composer and actress. I can’t even begin to list all of the hits and professional accolades this girl from a small town in North Dakota achieved in her 60-year career.

To learn more about Miss Peggy Lee's amazing life and career, be sure to stop by the official Peggy Lee website, or read a book about this American icon. If you don’t have some Peggy Lee in your music collection, buy a cd today....make yourself a Casanova Cocktail and sit down and listen to it this weekend!


I feel very fortunate that I was able to see this icon perform live in my lifetime. She passed away in 2002. Mr. Peacock salutes this fellow Gemini—Miss Peggy Lee!

A Modern Lady with Panache

Mr. Peacock has introduced you to different male peacocks who live their lives to the beat of their own drums, but I will now introduce you to an extraordinary lady with panache—Lisa Borgnes Giramonti. This former advertising writer (Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather, and McCann Erickson) burned out on advertising about 10 years ago and has since tried to live her life in the most meaningful way possible. Art, literature, friends, food, laughter, and travel give Lisa contentment in her busy life.

Above: Lisa in her Wellies, enjoying a moment in Scotland.

This talented lady with panache, in addition to being a wife and mother, is a serious adventurer whose travels and experiences have taken her around the globe. She chronicles her adventures and experiences on her lovely blog, A Bloomsbury Life. Los Angeles is Lisa’s current home base and she’s usually up by 6am brewing copious cups of coffee with her Moka pot. Each morning she loves hearing the chirp of the birdsong and the gradual stirrings of life in her house and neighborhood. It’s a peaceful time...until her son wakes up! Lisa also finds time to embroider beautiful modern tableau vivants and samplers—indeed, a lady with panache!

Above left to right: Lisa's son, Luca, noshing in the kitchen. Mr. Peacock loves the wonderful tartan cushions and Timorous Beasties wallpaper; Lisa in Cairns, Australia, part of her National Geographic around-the-world trip.

Mr. Peacock: How would you describe your own style?
Lisa Borgnes Giramonti: I’m a bit of a magpie when it comes to style. I am a big believer in buying what you love and making it work. Your home is a visual expression of your personality, and quirks are what make it unique and distinctive. I don’t like perfection. In terms of interior design, I am drawn to everything from bohemian textiles to modern interpretations of traditional prints, like Timorous Beasties “London” Toile de Jouy. I am currently fascinated with burlap—as upholstery, as curtains, as pillow; its coarseness and texture feel very modern to me.

Above: The "Bloomsbury Life" dining room...the table is set, the lights are low, the candles are lit, and Lisa's "Original Fake Bookcase" wallpaper is glowing—readied for a wonderful meal with family and friends.

My overriding principle in creating a great room is to think of it as though you’re inviting guests to a cocktail party: you don’t want everyone from the same company or wearing the same outfit. That would be boring. The mix is what creates tension and vitality. In my dining room, I have hand-tinted “Original Fake Bookcase” wallpaper by Deborah Bowness (see photo above), a mid-century Danish dining table and an iron horseshoe bench with a white goat fur cushion (see photo below), all grounded by a faded and slightly threadbare antique rug. It all works because although the pieces have vastly different provenances, they each have enough personality to stand on their own.

Above: Lisa snapping a self-portrait in her gorgeous bathroom; the amazing horse-shoe bench, draped with a goat fur, in her dining room.

MP: Where did you grow up?
LBG: I was born in Brussels, Belgium and grew up in Oslo, Stockholm and London. I loved Europe and remember it vividly. When I was nine, my Norwegian father, who worked for Ford of Europe, was transferred to world headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. It was a blow, to say the least. No offense to the people who live there, but I spent the next ten years dreaming up ways to escape.

Above left to right: Vanessa Bell; her sister, Virginia Woolf, and Vanessa a young women; a Vanessa Bell painting.

MP: Who's your style icon?
LBG: I adore Vanessa Bell, one of the founders of the Bloomsbury Group (namesake of Lisa's blog—A Bloomsbury Life). Her house at Charleston is a perfect reflection of the values she deemed important in life: art, literature, friendship, and beauty. She lived an unconventional life by Victorian standards (married amicably to Clive Bell, her deepest relationship was with Duncan Grant, father of her daughter and good friends with Clive) and despite the deaths of her sister Virginia Woolf and her son Julian, she kept on keeping on, striving to find meaning and beauty in life despite its tragedies.

MP: Who or what has been the greatest influence on your style?
LBG: Definitely my two eccentric English roommates, Mary and Jane Brannigan, who I lived with in Williamsburg, Brooklyn after college. Mary was a couturier who specialized in neo-Edwardian fitted suits, and Jane was a music promoter/Jill of all trades. They were Pre-Raphaelite beauties with a thrilling ability to find glamour, drama and humor in everyday existence. From them, I learned that style isn’t about money, it’s about attitude. We lived in a Civil War-era carriage house that was always freezing; once I came home to Mary, in high heels and red lipstick, sawing up a dining chair to use as kindling. When it rained, you had to use an umbrella in the bathroom. We draped velvet throws over threadbare sofas and planted real moss on the mantelpiece. It was a bewitching time.

My bedroom faced a Polish sausage casing factory, not the most scenic of views, so I transformed it into a Moroccan fantasy, with dark tangerine walls and a navy-blue ceiling with cloudlike swirls to conjure up a brooding night. I hung a mosquito net over the bed and decorated the room with vintage fabrics and cushions. It was all very "Sheltering Sky."

MP: Any book, film or song that changed your life?
LBG: Pippi Longstocking, the one starring Inger Nilsson (see photo, above left). As a child, I remember being struck by her ability to live life on her own terms, her disdain for petty-minded bourgeoisie, and her passion for travel. I also remember being quite taken with her house: it was a colorful hippy-bohemian Marimekko paradise.

Above: Peter Dunham "Samarkand" curtains framing the windows in Lisa's warm and eclectic living room.

MP: Do you have a favorite brand, designer or shop?
LBG: I think everything that Peter Dunham designs for his showroom, Hollywood at Home, captures that elusive mix of aristo-bohemian globetrotting chic to which I aspire. It’s very Jackie Kennedy in Jaipur, Amanda Harlech in Devonshire and Jemima Khan in San Tropez.

In London, I make a mad dash for Liberty and Co. the moment I land.

Above left to right: Lisa's friend, Belinda, perusing tote bags at the famed Chandni Chowk market in India; a stolen moment at an Indian textile shop.

In Delhi, I love Chandni Chowk, the legendary outdoor market in Old Delhi. I found the most amazing eco-shopping bags emblazoned with Bollywood movie posters for 50 cents each that I gave to all my friends.

I am a big believer in visiting the local supermarket of whatever city you’re visiting. They always have the best cheap finds. Last summer in Normandy, when the euro was ridiculously high, I was despairing of finding gifts for friends until I found the most amazing sea salt at the local supermarche in a canister shaped like a lighthouse, for about a dollar apiece.

MP: You've lived in 3 amazing cities: Los Angeles, Manhattan and London. What do you adore and abhor in each city?

LBG: Los Angeles
• Love the Hollywood Hills with their endless hiking trails, the scarlet bougainvillea and the star jasmine bushes, which give up their scent as night approaches.
• Love driving along Mulholland Drive (above right) at night—it becomes a two-lane country road on top of a mountain, with a glittering city of dreams spread out below you.
• Love the old-school restaurants in this town: the restaurant at Chateau Marmont (above left), the Tower Bar, the Polo Lounge (above center), Musso and Frank’s, Dan Tana’s—Old Hollywood is alive and well.
• Hate the sun in high summer, because it turns into a relentless Klieg light over the city until September.

London:
• Love London cabdrivers and the roomy black cabs (above right); love the ancient streets, lane and alleys that haven’t changed since Roman times.
• Love all the museums, the Victoria and Albert Museum especially (above left), with its amazing cafe and gift shop.
• Love Rules Restaurant on Maiden Lane (above center), which has been consistently operating since 1798, and has the best sticky toffee pudding in the world—be sure to ask for a side of custard to pour over it.
• Hate the traffic.

New York:
• Love Freeman's restaurant (above right), the Bowery Hotel and lower Manhattan, which is one of the only areas that, to me, still feels linked to its past.
• Love the Gild Hotel (above left), deep inside Wall Street, it was a revelation to me on my last trip—the buildings are so close to each other down there they almost block out the sky. It felt mysterious, exciting and very "Gangs of New York."
• Hate the provincial attitude of some of its citizens who believe that NYC is the epicenter of the world and never bother to get a passport and expand their horizons.

MP: What is your favorite city as a travel destination?
LBG: Right now, I’m loving Bruges (see above) in the off-season, when it reverts to an elegant medieval town. The interior design there is fabulous—it’s Axel Vervoordt with a dose of English bohemianism thrown in. Lots of dark painted woodwork, colorful threadbare kilims and pattern-on-pattern. Very Dries Van Noten, actually.

MP: Any trips/travels that unexpectedly exceeded your expectations?
LBG: India, India, India! I can't say enough about it (see above). It's ironic, because until I visited it, I had NO desire to go there. It is a revelatory place in so many ways. Yes, it's chaotic, yes, it's dirty, yes, you will see things that horrify you. But somehow amidst all the confusion, your soul is at peace. There is an amazing sense of stillness and centeredness that surrounds and envelops you. I feel much more relaxed there than I ever do in Manhattan. The beauty, the people, the food, the temples…do anything you can to go there!

Lisa's keen eye captures wonderful moments from her global journeys including, clockwise from top left: a woman with a llama in Cuzco, Peru; an elder woman at Angor Wat, Cambodia; the iconic sculptures on Easter Island.

MP: Any favorite treasure or treasures from a trip?
LBG: I went on a month-long around-the-world trip with National Geographic via private jet in 2007 and we traveled to Macchu Picchu, Easter Island, Cambodia, Tibet, where I picked up some wonderful mementos. But my favorite treasures are my photos from the trip—I experience a visceral rush when I look at them and am immediately transported back to the moment.

Above: "Apartment in NYC"—Lisa's painterly embroidery captures the essence of a past home in the 1990's.

MP: When and how did you start creating your unique modern embroideries?
LBG: I began my embroideries about fifteen years ago after becoming obsessed with The Bayeux Tapestry, a medieval embroidered “cartoon strip” that tells the story of the Norman Invasion. I wanted to create personal pieces that reflected my life in the same way. I usually base my pieces on photos that I have taken. I look for images that have a strong perspective, clean lines and lots of visual interest. Once I’ve chosen a subject, I draw a rough outline onto linen, attach the fabric to a stretcher and begin the process of choosing my color palette.

Above: "Purly Wurly Takes a Picture," has the same verve and vitality as a Vanessa Bell painting—note all of the thoughtful details in Lisa's embroidery work.

MP: Do you find needlework and embroidery to be therapeutic?
LBG: Absolutely! I stream BBC Radio 4 or put on a good podcast and sit down to sew, and before I know it, it’s time to go pick up my son from school.

MP: What's your favorite food or meal?
Aperitif: Campari and soda with a splash of orange juice.
Main course: Moules meuniere, frites and a salade verte.
Dessert: Sticky toffee pudding
Afterwards: Single espresso and a small thimbleful of port.

MP: What male peacock has the best style today?
LBG: Hands down, Lapo Elkann, the Fiat heir and modern-day dandy. His grandparents are Gianni and Marella Agnelli, so good taste obviously runs in the genes. I know he’s had his share of shady indiscretions, but come on, a blameless life is a bit boring, don’t you think?

Above: A modern-day dandy—Mr. Lapo Elkann.

MP: What city has the most stylish men?
LBG: I’m partial to Milan. My husband worked there for years and I found the men there to be sartorial geniuses, all of them. They’re not afraid of color or pattern-on-pattern, which I love. Those classic navy quilted jackets. Beautiful cashmere sweaters. Bespoke shirts with bold silk ties. Chunky dark sunglasses. Handmade leather shoes. They don’t miss a detail.

MP: Do you "collect" anything?
LBG: Yes, I collect friends, stories, laughter and experiences. As Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, “Own only what you can carry with you; know language, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.”

Mr. Peacock is in awe of Lisa Borgnes Giramonti's creativity, talent and joie de vivre. Treat yourself to a tea break this afternoon, and stop by Lisa's blog, A Bloomsbury Life, for a lovely read. Thanks Lisa for sharing your inspirations, travels, and artwork!

Dreaming of Shangri La

It’s been a rainy week in San Francisco, but I’m thankful because California is suffering from a drought. These rainy days, however, makes me daydream of being on a warm beach somewhere.

Mr. Peacock took this photo of Jason, on Christmas Eve a few years ago, on a beach in Kauai.

Mr. Peacock and his partner usually make a pilgrimage during the winter holiday season to the Hawaiian Islands, however, this past holiday season we stayed home and didn’t travel. A few years ago, on a trip to Oahu, we toured the Doris Duke estate—Shangri La, which is maintained by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. Doris Duke built the estate from scratch, after her around-the-world honeymoon in the early 1930’s. I'm assuming she named it Shangri La, after the concept of Shambhala or maybe even the novel, Lost Horizon.

You have to purchase and make reservations for the Shangri La tour through the Honolulu Academy of Arts, which I believe is also funded through an endowment from Ms. Duke. Our reservation was in the late afternoon, so we spent the first part of the day at the Honolulu Academy of Arts admiring their lovely collection of Asian and European art, which is displayed in traditional old school style galleries. We felt like we were alone in the galleries most of the time and it was a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. Then we had a lovely organic lunch at their Pavilion Café, which served very Californian cuisine on Heath Ceramics, and then we boarded the bus to Shangri La. There were less than a dozen other people on the bus, and we were probably the youngest and the least conservative, but everyone was very polite. We drove through Honolulu traffic for about a half an hour to a suburb on the other side of Diamond Head.

As we entered the Doris Duke estate, it did not look like much from the outside—a circle drive, with what looked like a single story structure and a pair of camels at the entryway. A very nice docent lady greeted us and led us through a gate on the right side towards the gardens.

The gardens are classically Islamic—very symmetrical and geometric, with water and shade. We were instructed to stay on the path and with the docent.

The size of Shangri La is deceiving, because the architecture and design of the home is so graceful and intimate. Mr. Peacock was immediately imagining moving in, and how to incorporate his own belongs into the décor.

The house is built on a cliff, with the structure of the home wrapped around an interior (outdoor) courtyard. The courtyard is tiled with a patchwork of tile (many of the tile sections are from Ms. Duke's trips) and has columns with inlaid mirrors.

The living room has a huge custom sectional covered in a wide wale corduroy, that looks like something current from B&B Italia or Ligne Roset. I had to keep reminding myself that the house and most of its contents were from the 1930's. Doris Duke was, in both her taste and her beliefs, very daring and modern.

The dining room was huge and could accommodate large parties, but still felt intimate and cozy.

We didn't get to see the bathroom or the bedroom, due to renovations. Both rooms are made with inlaid marble, reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. Ms. Duke, in fact, brought many workers and craftsmen from the Middle East and Southern Asia to work on Shangri La.

Mr. Peacock adored the hypnotic Islamic typography on the geometric tile work, which included quotations from the Qur’an.

Towards the end of the tour (which was my favorite part), an older man from India, who had been a longtime assistant for Ms. Duke, told anecdotes about Doris and Shangri La. He said she loved to swim everyday in her pool with all of her children—8 dogs. He also told us that she was both thrifty and crafty, and would frequently be up on ladders repairing and replacing loose tiles, and often gluing bric-a-brac on things around Shangri La. I love that about Doris Duke!

Above: Doris Duke in the 1930's, Doris Duke's Shangri La booklet, Arabesque—Modern Arabic and Persian graphic design book.

The architecture and planning of the estate is fascinating, but too lengthy and detailed to chat about here. If you want more information about Shangri La, I recommend purchasing the booklet here. The recent book, Arabesque, is about modern Arabic and Persian typography and graphic design. You can order a copy here. There are also many wonderful books about the principles of Islamic gardening here.

Above: We were served juice on this terrace at the end of our tour. You can see Diamond Head, off in the distance on the left side.

If you’re planning a trip to Honolulu, make sure you add a visit to Doris Duke's Shangri La to your itinerary. More information and reservations here. Until then, you can take a virtual video tour here. Enjoy!

Ode to LaViolette...

Yesterday, my maternal grandmother LaViolette passed away. Mr. Peacock was expecting that something would happen soon, because she was 98 years old and suffering from dementia, however, when it does happen it’s still a shock and jolt to your psyche. She had numerous brushes with death over the course of her long life—but she always faced her challenges with courage and optimism. She appreciated each day and wanted to always learn or try something new. This tough Aries woman was an incredible influence and a constant inspiration for Mr. Peacock.

Above left: My mother and I used to tease my grandmother, and tell her she looked like she was in drag when she was a schoolgirl.
Above right: My mother and grandmother in the 1930's.

My grandmother's adult life wasn’t how she imagined it would be as a child—no white picket fence. She wanted her three children and all of her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) to have a better life than her...and not make the same mistakes as she did. She self-depreciatingly called herself a “dumb country girl,” but was actually a very savvy and intelligent woman—who just happened to let her heart rule her life and not her intellect. LaViolette wasn’t a shy, quite flower though—she was a loud and stubborn lady that liked to have fun, eat good food and had a soft spot for any underdog or someone in trouble. She loved people and especially liked talking with people. “What is your first memory of your life?” was her favorite question she liked to ask, when she first met someone. My grandmother's first memory was, of course...getting in trouble as a toddler.

Above left: Mr. Peacock with his grandmother and younger sister, Samantha.

My grandmother invited me to come stay with her for a few months, years ago, after I had a painful break-up. We would frequently stay up all night talking and eating glazed donuts—which she loved. We had a special kinship and were frequently each others confidante—I could tell her anything without judgment and she also knew that she could talk to me about anything. Here’s some of LaViolette's favorite things:

Above: LaViolette, around 90 years old here, with her beloved Cairn Terrier, Teddie, standing in her backyard...with her blackberry bushes in the background.

She wore her hair in variations of a bob, for the last couple decades. She loved playing Bridge, bold dangling earrings and honky tonk music. Her favorite colors were red, black, and of course violet.

Above left: LaViolette, wearing a lavender colored vest in Rome, in the late 1960's—her favorite city in Europe.
Above right: Standing in front of a fjord in Norway, in the 1970's.

She profaned that she hated traveling, however, deep down she really enjoyed traveling and adventure. She always, however, appreciated coming home.

LaViolette had an incredible green thumb and could practically make a rock bloom. She collected African Violets and always displayed her prized plants in full bloom...and was always on the lookout for a new or unusual variety.

Her favorite artist was Tamara de Lempicka. In 1974, the magazine, Auto-Journal, described the iconic Lempicka self-portrait (above left) as "a real image of an independent woman who asserts herself." Mr. Peacock would also describe his grandmother the same way... as the "real image of an independent woman who asserts herself."


Two of her favorite movies were MASH and Wings of Desire. I accompanied her 3 times to watch the latter film.


I will close now with a clip from a 1960 television show. It's a performance by Patsy Cline and introduced by Eddy Arnold—two my grandmother’s favorite performers. LaViolette was my grandmother, but she was also one of my closest friends and I will miss this lady with panache.