BETTY GORDON
Today mixed in with all the disturbing political news was a lengthy New York Times story about Betty Gordon, a big hearted actress, which is a relief from all this political news. She came to New York in her early twenties to be an actress and was moderately successful as an actress in regional theaters. But she was also a live wire, a dazzling beauty, dancing naked at the Woodstock festival and living at the center of a Bohemian culture in New York City. It seems that everyone she touched was enlivened by her presence. She even dated Serpico, famous for revealing corruption in the New York City police department. He claims that she kept him sane during this very stressful time. For twenty years she ran a bar in Manhattan called the Stoned Crow, a gathering place for all kinds of creative people.
She is still alive at 93 and while in pain with the effects of old age is still helping and supporting people. An illustrator, a much younger male friend, put his illustrations all over her bar. When he became addicted to drugs a number of years ago he would call her from his apartment in New Haven and she would support him from her apartment in New York City. Finally, to pull him out of his depression and addiction in her 90’s she offered to write a children’s book if he would illustrate it. She did: Phoebe the Cat Who Wanted To Be A Dog. The project pulled him out of his depression and off of drugs.
Reading her story makes me feel good and has the same effect she had on so many people. She erases the political tensions around me and by her distant present makes me also feel more alive.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 