As a long time Edith Piaf fan I recently went to the movie La Vie En Rose and thought Marion Cotillard's performance of Edith Piaf was brilliant so decided to get a biography out of the library on Edith. It seems she had rheumatoid arthritis - mentioned as rheumatism in 1949 (like it went away!) and then towards the end of her life mentions her terribly deformed hands and her early death from drugs - heroin or probably morphine for her pain contributed to her death. She was inspirational and very brave during the war which was not mentioned in the movie but I felt quite humbled to read of her struggles in life, many of which would have been caused by her rheumatoid and her determination to carry on singing in her magnificent voice even when in chronic pain.
We dont have many heroes with RA but she was definitely one. A friend gave me the soundtrack for Christmas which I have been listening to and enjoying heaps.
See the movie if you can - she was one of us.That sounds good---I'm going to see it! I like her music, too.
This is so totally OT but this weekend I saw the documentary King of Kong: a Fistful of Quarters
and it was UNFLARKINGBELIEVABLE. It's SOOOO good, and it's one of those
fluky things where it's a real time documentary in which amazing events
unfold. Even if you're not into video games it would be good because
it's more of a story of the average man triumphing over adversity
through hard work, integrity and perserverance. I think it's being made
into a Hollywood drama now (possibly starrring Johnny Depp) but I would
reccomend seeing the documentary if you ever get a chance.
Cassandra - I will check her out, I had no idea. Thank - Cathy