A Kinder, Gentler Time

After George and Barbara Bush retired, they moved back to Houston. When this happened I was still frequently performing in shows for Theatre Under The Stars. President Bush and Barbara had season tickets to our shows. They usually attended the Sunday matinee performance. At intermission the Bushes would come back stage, greet cast members and pose for photos. Mrs. Bush was, as usual, in charge. (She would have made a great stage manager.) The president did what she told him to do.

In "The Wizard of Oz", my friend Marybelle played the Wicked Witch of the West. The Bushes wanted a picture with her. I was standing in the room when Marybelle asked if she should be in the middle of the shot. Without a beat, Barbara quipped, "No, Marybelle. We'll put the president in the middle and the witches on the ends!" All of us laughed. The acerbic reply was so unexpected, but so Mrs. Bush.

During that same production, I posed for a photo with Mrs. Bush ... just the two of us ... To my chagrin, the picture was published on the front page of "The Sealy News", the newspaper for which I wrote from 1984 to 1989. I'm not embarassed I was pictured with the former First Lady; it was what I was wearing. I was in my Emerald City costume .... 12 yards of green lame and a bright green plastic wig in clashing shades!

I've found photos from the Yeston-Kopit Phantom, My Fair Lady and other TUTS shows where the entire cast posed with the Bushes. In one, President Bush is in the back row next to me. Though my politics were far from the president's, I found both of them charming and kind, very approachable.

I admired Barbara Bush for her leadership in Planned Parenthood in Texas and promotion of literacy. I was comforted that the elder Bush was experienced and knowledgeable; holding several positions of leadership prior to his presidency. I did not like their son Shrub's politics and what happened to our country between 2000-2008. Barbara Bush did not suffer fools gladly and had nothing positive to say about President Tramp. (not a typo). She was consistent.

Isn't it often the case when you get to know someone in person, it softens your views? This was the case when it came to George and Barbara Bush. Compared to now, the 80's, 90's and 2000's were a kinder, gentler time. RIP Barbara Bush.