Hey now, Thursday. It's all gloom and doom outside but I'm content and inside, listening to an Otis Redding anthology and feeling peaceful. We'll see how long that lasts...
Before I went to bed last night, I watched some amazing home movies of the Kennedys on the History Channel. Not sure if anyone else caught this fascinating glimpse into the "real" lives of American royalty, but it was beyond fascinating, and I couldn't turn away. Though I was not alive during the Kennedy years, it's hard not to be amazed and floored by how mythic JFK and Jackie were, with such a tragic end. It's unbelievable how beautiful they both were, and the style factor was sort of out of this world. There was Jackie- in a dark bubblegum pink sleeveless shift, on Hyannis Port, looking like a billion dollars- and there's JFK- in his fantastic wayfarers, looking every inch the perfect American President and sportsman. I also got to see the beautiful children, John John and Caroline, adorable beyond. Sure I know Mr. Kennedy was not exactly the model family man and that his pops was not above board, but watching these old clips confirmed one thing- the Kennedy era represented American style and ideals at its finest- it must have been magic to have been around in those heady times- the hope, the glamour, the glory, cut way too short. I really could look at Jackie all day...there will simply never be another like her. She was simply perfection- tanned, toned, and composed. Pure American glamour. Was there ever another woman in American history that had her influence on the way women wanted to look? I've talked to my mom about it, and she too was swept up in Jackie mania, and all things pillbox and perfection.
Having missed that era and having grown up in the Reagan years, it's hard not to be cynical about the aristocracy that surrounds the American presidency. Ron and Nancy had the "it" thing, it's true- but were way too old to capture the imagination of a country looking to grow up- that's what was so striking about JFK- there was a real opportunity for that dynasty to grow up right along with the country, yet it was not to be- American dreams gave way to American tragedy.
The Obamas have that Kennedy thing in a way, but not nearly as iconic, if you ask me. Though Obama's campaign was epic and glorious and hopeful, I feel like he needs to recapture our hope, our dreams, and our imaginations. Can you really reach royal American status through a Twitter town hall? Of this I'm not sure, though these are different times. And Michelle tries to channel Jackie in her clothes, but I feel it doesn't work for her- I wish she would just dress in a manner appropriate for the strong, muscular, powerful woman she is. Enough of the vintage silhouettes and wasp waists for daytime. Night time she seems to excel, but alas, she's no Jackie. I like her in her own right, but I don't want to dress like her.
If you have a chance to catch those home movies, do. Even if you are a hardened cynic and think the American dream is a bunch of bullshit, you can't help but get enraptured by this insider look at our past, and wonder how you too can channel Jackie- even if you're not a preppy girl, you can't help but love her classic beauty and style. There's a little Jackie in all of us, non? Or at least we wish there was. Was nice to be inspired right before bed- I truly was floored.
And that's what's up this all American Thursday in the MIA. XO
Here's a Reuters piece on the program:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/us-kennedy-idUSTRE7657KR20110706