Poignant chapters about Andy’s life endeared him more so to me. There is humor, for example, when he is in Paris France working with Quincy Jones to produce his first album. Persistently knocking on the wrong apartment door for the key gets him kicked n the shins! The retreat to enjoy hot buttered rums in the lodge while golfing with friends and how Fred Mac Murray who was tighter that the skin on a wiener loses dice three times in a row to buy the rounds is a hoot.
I had forgotten that he and his brothers sing the background on "Would You like to Swing ona Star" with Bing Crosby. This is one of the first songs I rmember singing and something that stayed with me all my life. I have a pair of earrings with angels sitting on the side of the moon ready to swing on a star and a pin a long gone friend, Roberta, bought me with the star dangling and the angel ready to take off and swing on it. No wonder I love Andy, he's part of my circle of life.
There is pathos when he describes his father’s death and his eldest brother’s dementia. There is example after example of his perseverance. There is history when he descries the early days of his San Diego golf tournament and how these came to be sponsored and then directed by commercial venues. Over several chapters, Andy describes his deep friendship with Bobby Kennedy; they were in Los Angeles at the hotel waiting to join him for dinner when Bobby was killed. He sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic at Bobby’s funeral, something he did with a heavy heart and tears. It’s interesting how a Republican became so close to Bobby but also demonstrates that Bobby Kennedy was idealistic and beyond a party. Andy writes about his first marriage to Claudine Longet, his children and accepts total responsibility for the end of that marriage as he was working all the time. He also shares the tragedy when Claudine shoots Spider Savich in Aspen, CO. I had forgotten that story.
So many wonderful chapters were favorites but perhaps the best was reading the details about how he came to Branson and his efforts (perfectionist top notch) engaged in construction of his magnificent Moon River Theater. His interest in artwork and paintings derives from his early days of poverty where he spent time visiting any and all galleries and museums. Today he is an avid collector. Many treasures are displayed in his Theater in Branson. Today he is at the point of contentment in his life which he divides between Branson, MO & La Quinta, CA. I treasured every page and recommend this book to anyone who likes to read biographies. I learned a lot about Andy and enjoyed this immensely. I am going to write a fan letter to Andy about this book and our experience at his theater. I have never done that in my adult life and we will see if I get a reply. Our next trip to Branson, we are going back and will stop at his Moon River Grill. Andy visits it almost daily, when in Branson, he says, because the food is free!
Andy Williams is a dear man who is not bitter but who is I am sure very demanding. Most perfectionist are. But what a voice!
In order to read Andy's memoir, I had to finish Sarah Pailin's "Going Rogue." It was a coincidence that she was speaking at the college of the Ozarks in Branson when we were there. I had her book with me and if we had not already purchased tickets to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, we would have gone to hear Sarah. When John McCain chose her as his running mate, VP, I vacillated between puzzled and miffed. I now believe she made the most positive difference in the campaign and if she had been given a freer reign, McCain could have done better. Maybe no one would have beat Obsama and the Bush hating media, but Sarah is a force. Maybe she won't run again, but she is going to be active and will not go away!
I usually don’t buy books as soon as they are released, but when I saw this in Sam’s that day I put it in my shopping cart to support her. Contrary to what the hateful liberal critics say, I did not read any whining in this book. She is merely getting her side out there. Because I spent a long career in high levels of CA state government in several departments I absolutely believe what she says. I encountered some of the very same situations in my career. I know it happens. She is a woman of her word, unusual in politics. When Sarah says she will do something, count on it. Her allegiance to principles made many enemies for her early on in Alaska, even in her own Republican party. It certainly upset the Exxon oil company. I believe many of the difficulties she encounters still today have deep roots there. Repercussions of messing with big oil? I can believe it.
I now understand why she resigned as Governor, though I still wish she could have toughed it out. She was absolutely paralyzed by the ethics charges filed left and right by the DNC and the liberals. Alaska law allows anyone to file these, regardless of whether or not they are an Alaskan citizen.
I have been intrigued by her marriage to a blue collar guy because I have lived similarly with marriage Jerry for 42+ years. There is not the breadth of personal information in this book that I might have preferred. There is a bit about her childhood in Alaska and her college years and many photos. Most of the book is about her political experiences which are good reading too. She does describe life in the salmon fisheries, dog sledding, the Iditarod and life in Alaska. Nevertheless I absolutely enjoyed this book and it will remain among my collection. One of my favorite quotes is on page 386 where she espouses her belief that the “role of government is to protect us not to perfect us.” I hope her dad is right on when he says that, “Don’t worry about Sarah. She is not retreating, she’s just reloading!”
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