(and Nelson, and Isabel)

Here’s a closeup of Jeanette’s arrangements (out in the sunlight so you can really take in the details):

And here’s Nelson’s

And Isabel Eddy’s:

I’ve tried to figure out the exact number of years I’ve headed up this initiative at Christmas, and I think this is Christmas #12? I did this on my own at first, but of numerous recent years have had several key friends chip in to share the cost of making sure these beloved people look remembered and cared for during the holidays. We never leave a card, but it’s us, every year. Nelson and Isabel are interred at Hollywood Forever, which has a very VERY different culture than the staid old institution that is Forest Lawn — Glendale, where Jeanette is. The Hollywood Forever flowers are always louder, more California, more —well, Hollywood Forever, lol, though I love Irina, the sweet lady who runs the flower shop there and knows a little something about everyone. My longstanding friendship with Jessica, a representative in the Forest Lawn flower shop, always means that Jeanette’s arrangements are truly couture, often planned and discussed for weeks in advance, and usually with flowers special-ordered to make the vision come to fruition for Miss MacDonald. The level of class and sophistication in dealing with Forest Lawn is pretty matchless. Jessica takes our flowers up to Freedom and places them herself, makes sure the vases match, and tells her hi for us, and I love knowing that someone who is actually invested does this on our behalf, since we’re not there to do it ourselves.

Jeanette is “in the wall” with not only Gene, but it girl Clara Bow, Burns and Allen, Nat King Cole (a personal favorite of mine, y’all he was my top artist in my Spotify wrapped this year and they gave me a “listening age” of 84 HAHAHAHA), and Alan Ladd. That’s a whole lot of show business for one little wall, and lots of contemporaries of Jeanette’s, and for whatever reason it’s very damn important to me that she look the most cared for. I just know she’d appreciate her crypt being the prettiest, lol.

Thank you as always to my group that helps with this. Always so willing to step in to do whatever is needed to make sure her legacy is well-kept. Y’all are the best.