There is a play called "Tuesdays With Morrie" that follows the relationship between a young Brandeis University graduate, Mitch, and his favorite professor, Morrie Schwartz. Upon graduation, he promises Morrie that he will keep in touch, although he fails to fulfill that promise as he attempts to chase an empty life of celebrity.
Years later, Mitch rediscovers Morrie -- aged and riddled with ALS. Although Morrie's body had betrayed his passion for dancing, Mitch found that the wisdom and life lessons that Morrie could still bestow on him were a spiritual salve that helped heal the damaged life that Mitch had endured.
On Saturday evening, March 6, the rain soaked streets of Beverly Hills were awash with supporters who recognize the importance of the elderly, and the historic mission of the Motion Picture Home's credo of We Take Care of Our Own. Even though we resembled some of the wet rats who not only inhabit the neglected kitchens of the Motion Picture Home as well as a few of the vermin that still collect a fat paycheck from the MPTF, we stood vigil, soaked to the bones, on the other side of the street where Jeffrey Katzenberg held his Night Before fundraiser.
Lesser souls may have stayed at home, but not us. A year before we had made our mark in the streets and had been the subject of hushed conversation at Katzenberg's party. In a media suite, the press was assured that the residents would be taken care of 'in the first class way that they've been accustomed to'.
Cut to one year later -- the residents had been treated in ways that "first class" would not be an accurate description. Intimidation by hired-gun social workers, bullying by security, fake prop police cars, banishment to outside facilities where only a taxi chit is offered to the spouse left behind may be first class treatment in Abu Ghraib, but not in Woodland Hills' Motion Picture Home.
(At right: Saving the Lives of Our Own
leader Nancy Biederman, SAG First VP Anne Marie Johnson, Jamie Farr, George Chakiris, Renee Taylor, Teamster Steve Dayan, SAG President Ken Howard.)
Not in a once world-class health facility that just recently cut its highly paid CEO loose.
Certainly not in a facility where the COO's relationship to the Camden Group, the consultants that put their approval on the closure of the nursing home, has been put under a microscope of impropriety and conflict of interest.
This year, while we tried to dodge not only the Towne Cars but the raindrops themselves, we found ourselves in a different position, with different friends standing by us.
Taking their place in our leaking pop-ups, huddled together as much for warmth as for being able to hear the speeches were Jamie Farr, our emcee, as well as SAG President Ken Howard, SAG First Vice President Anne Marie Johnson, Local 399 Teamster Steve Dayan who delivered an impassioned speech, Connie Stevens and George Chakiris, each in their own way urging us to continue our fight.
