Personal Narrative: Judy Garland

It’s a bittersweet moment looking at your grandma for the last time resting peacefully in her coffin, with no worries at all, stress free, like the day we first met. It was August 25, 1939, I was an 18 year old busboy at the Paramount Theatre on Broadway in New York City. That specific night, it was the world premiere of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ and some of the biggest names in Hollywood would be attending that event that evening. Mickey Rooney, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, and the fabulous Judy Garland. Mickey had brought her in as his date, to feed their relationship that was nothing more than a publicity stunt. She was someone he claimed to have loved, but was spotted the next day with some of the hottest star of that era. That’s why I met her broken inside also. Every California star was the same then just
like now. Well anyways, I definitely had to be on my best behavior because I was the one that was responsible for waiting their table and making sure that everything was alright. Well as I am walking out to service my first table, Ms.
Garland stopped me and asked if I could escort her to the nearest private restroom. While we were in route to the third floor, we had the most wonderful conversation. She talked about the Hollywood lifestyle and what her life was like after becoming a household name, everything was great. But it was the conversation on the way back that made both of us open each other’s eyes to one another’s life. Before getting on the elevator, she asked me “why do the good people that come into her life always have to leave so soon?” I never answered that question, in fact, i didn’t say anything. I just gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, wiped the tears from her eyes, and healed her hand all the way to the ground floor; and finally said “I love you.” Now here we are, forty-seven years later and she gone. All she ever wanted was to know what a normal life was like, and I bowed to give it to her; even if that meant I was to call her honey for the rest of her life. That why, when I look at her at this very moment, I feel as complete as I did when she was by my side, because I know I was able to achieve what she always
wanted. Never once did she not hear from me when she was away, never once was I not able to provide for her when she needed, and never once have I disrespected her behind her back or to her face when we were around other people. And that is why I have never heard her complain about anything in our relationship. Here lies a good person that has come into my life, and is now gone so soon. Rest in peace Ms. Garland. I love you.