Goodbye, Tammy Faye
Tammy Faye (Bakker) Messner has died at 65. I've actually been meaning to blog for 2 days about her...since I saw her on Larry King. Was that LIVE? Did she really give an interview JUST 2 days ago? I must investigate. She LOOKED like she was about to die, actually. She just looked awful. I've said it before...it's always funny whose death strikes you as most sad, but Tammy Faye's bothers me. I'm sure that sounds insane to many. She's known pretty much as a national joke. Sure, she was "wacky" and religious and married to TWO men who went to prison. There's a lot hypocritical about her lifestyle, but I think it's clear she really DID care about others and didn't follow the ridiculous God Will Send You To Hell bullshit that define most preachers. There was an underlying sweetness and genuineness to her. In the last few years, she wanted to inspire others who had cancer by being so open with her own battle. All very commendable if you ask me.
For twenty years after "the scandal," we all still talked about her. She fought hard to turn her life around, and she did, and she did so with humor. She knew she was often being laughed at, but she just soldiered onward. So I found it very distressing to see her as she was 2 nights ago, emaciated and frail beyond words. Someone so full of life was a mere shell of her former self. It was hard to watch. As a fellow human, my heart went out to her. No good person should have to suffer like that.
Also, somehow I'd forgotten until a few minutes ago that I was AT her theme park in August 1988 (the month I got my one and only PERMANENT)...the PTL's HERITAGE USA in Fort Mill, SC. I'm SURE i've mentioned this before for some reason. Maybe that's why I have this soft spot for her? I really DID have a ball there, lol. It was a great water park...though I could've done without the religious music blasting. It should be noted that we only went there because my cousins, whom we were visiting, lived a few minutes away. It wasn't a DESTINATION trip. In fact, I vividly recall us all openly mocking our every move. Respectful, we were not. So, Tammy Faye, i'm sorry your time on this earth was cut short in such a miserable way. You will be remembered.
For twenty years after "the scandal," we all still talked about her. She fought hard to turn her life around, and she did, and she did so with humor. She knew she was often being laughed at, but she just soldiered onward. So I found it very distressing to see her as she was 2 nights ago, emaciated and frail beyond words. Someone so full of life was a mere shell of her former self. It was hard to watch. As a fellow human, my heart went out to her. No good person should have to suffer like that.
Also, somehow I'd forgotten until a few minutes ago that I was AT her theme park in August 1988 (the month I got my one and only PERMANENT)...the PTL's HERITAGE USA in Fort Mill, SC. I'm SURE i've mentioned this before for some reason. Maybe that's why I have this soft spot for her? I really DID have a ball there, lol. It was a great water park...though I could've done without the religious music blasting. It should be noted that we only went there because my cousins, whom we were visiting, lived a few minutes away. It wasn't a DESTINATION trip. In fact, I vividly recall us all openly mocking our every move. Respectful, we were not. So, Tammy Faye, i'm sorry your time on this earth was cut short in such a miserable way. You will be remembered.
posted by Gregoire at 7:30 PM
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