Bliss

As the title suggests, "bliss" is the emotion of the moment. The emotion is defined as "complete happiness or spiritual joy." Some sources explain it as "extreme ecstasy or extreme happiness". For me, bliss is a more gentle, softer emotion. The word comes to mind as I sit here, on a couch, drinking pumpkin spice coffee and looking out over a winter wonderland of snow, sunshine and the blue of the lake beyond. It is the day before Thanksgiving and, as usual, our family is gathered, up north, to celebrate the holiday and unplug. (Funny, as I am currently plugged in via my cell Wi-Fi hotspot!)

"Bliss" was how my friend, Jay, usually signed his letters and cards. He passed away on Saturday, 11/23 at the age of 50. He was out in the woods on the first day of Deer Hunting Season. He was found next to his ATV, a deer lashed to the top or side or something. It would appear that he died from a massive heart attack but I don't know for certain. The irony here, of course, is the fact that Jay had directed and produced a documentary about hunting.

I was talking to my husband, this morning, telling him "Jay" stories... Not my personal memories but memories of his stories. The meeting of the Dalai Lama in London wearing Packer sweats....the party at the Playboy Mansion.....the crazy feeling of being a celebrity at Sundance when his film, "Employee of the Month" premiered. Then there are my recollections of our time together doing summer stock all those years ago in little Clinton, Iowa. Jay had been cast as Marcellus in "Music Man" and, every night, him and Tom stopped the show with "Sadder but Wiser Girl". Many nights spent laughing, talking and laughing some more. He was such an intense young man and felt things so deeply. Although we were only to meet up a handful of times over the next few decades, we kept in touch via his wonderful letters, phone calls, etc. I treasure a VHS tape sent the Christmas he was first on "In Living Color". He literally took a video camera along with him and showed off his new L.A. apartment as well as filming a day on the FOX lot, even including backstage during a show taping.  Today the word "bliss" rings in my ears and I know it's him saying.."it's okay." It's gonna take awhile for me. I can only imagine that he entered the gates of Valhalla and was greeted by many that were waiting for him to join the party.

Much more on Jay here......  And here is a reel, shown at his memorial in L.A., of some of Jay's work.

A favorite Jay Leggett story of mine...was one he told to me and alluded to in the last paragraph. He was in London directing "Tony and Tina's Wedding" and being put up in a hotel in the posh Mayfair district. Upon hearing a commotion in the streets, he looked out and saw a procession of Buddhist monks and people filling up the street in front of the hotel. He wandered down, in Packers sweats of course, and stepped out the front door and right up to the Dalai Lama who was entering. Of course he was tempted to introduce himself using a Bill Murray bit but, his Midwestern roots kicked in and he was respectful. He laughed, as he told the story, that a friend had travelled to Nepal to meet the DL only to miss him or be turned away or something.. Jay met him in Packers sweats.. Only darling Jay.

My mother passed away on 11/22/09 and we had to plan her funeral just before Thanksgiving that year. Jay will be buried on 11/27. I will always be able to remember the date now of when he left us.