Smiling through the tears for Anna
If I were writing this column with pen and paper instead of the computer, it would be stained with tears. This community, this world, and most intimately the family of Anna Pearce are mourning her death ... and celebrating her extraordinary life.
So many memories came flooding in when the news of Patty Duke’s passing broke on Tuesday morning. And as is a testament to that courageous bright light and wit who was a friend to many, most of my memories bring a smile. I met Anna back in the late ’80s in the checkout line at Rosauers on Appleway and Highway 95, of all places. I was startled to recognize her as we were shopping. I was a bit star struck and explained to my 13-year-old daughter who she was but my daughter had no clue about the 1960s icon. Until
I mentioned she was Sean and McKenzie Astin’s mom. Then my daughter was the starstruck one. As we waited in line I told Anna that my daughter was excited to meet the mother of two of her favorite actors. Anna’s laugh when she said everything comes full circle endeared her to me for what would be decades.
Through the years our paths would cross as her nephew, Mike Kennedy, is a friend. Anna had lived a much-documented and difficult life that was overshadowed by her show business success. But when she moved to Coeur d’Alene with her husband, Mike Pearce, she lived authentically and boldly.
Sharing her insight and struggles with mental health issues publicly just may have eclipsed the Oscar she received as a teen. When she underwent open heart surgery in 2004, she became a spokesperson for heart health. She lent her talent and mentoring to the arts community and the staged reading she did at North Idaho College with Ellen Travolta and Dennis Franz was an awe-inspiring gift.
One of the funniest conversations I shared with Anna was on the topic of marriage. She and Mike and Bert and I share a March 15, 1986, wedding date. She and I had been married the same number of times previously. Said Anna, “I just kept doing it until I got it right!” And get it right she did. Mike is the real deal and their affection for each other was palpable.
Another standing joke between us was that we had lived parallel lives, cosmic twins — except for her Oscar, Screen Actors Guild presidency (the first woman to hold that position), political affiliation and star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, that is. She defied the odds and was a working actor to the present time. She inspired, encouraged — she remained relevant.
A few weeks ago I wrote about inviting Bob Hough to be my first guest on a new KVNI morning radio show in 2011. The second guest that morning was my BFF Anna. I loved that she didn’t object to me calling her my BFF and that she made me laugh out loud, even at the crack of dawn. She came into the studio on the air with me and Joe Paisley a number of times in the years to follow. Most memorable was right before the Oscars. I asked her if she’d bring hers into the studio that morning, not knowing if she actually would. She did. And got a giant kick out of seeing how gobsmacked Joe and I were to actually hold that piece of history in our hands.
While we chatted on the air about Oscar she said, “Kerri, I thought you were crazy. Who the hell is going to see it on the radio?”
I replied, “Stick with me baby, there will be photographs!” Images and a memory I now will treasure.
I think my favorite interview with her took place five years ago on March 15. It was our shared 25th wedding anniversary and Anna and Mike were the guests. I joked with Mike he could have equal time to tell the real story of life with Anna. He didn’t take the bait. What we shared with listeners that morning was the banter of two people who knew they were blessed to have found each other and to have created a life together beyond all of their expectations. My heart goes out to the man who gave my BFF the happily ever after she so richly deserved.
What Anna gave to our community and to the world can never be measured, but it will be remembered always.
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Happy Birthday today to Sue Sausser (80!), Gloria Weidner, Tabetha Brisbin, Linda Schmidt, Bren Grace and Kathleen Perez.
Tomorrow, Priscilla Baker, Cathy Shortridge, Rick Vernon, Annika Baltzell, Chris Jones, Joey Nowoj, Patrick Reagan, Shirley Christie, Crystal LaFountain, David Holloway and Chris Clayton will have their cake and eat it, too.
Taking another trip around the sun on April Fool's Day are Ed Frazey, Keri Schwenke, Martha Goose, Kim Haddock, Steve Gibbs, Candi Applegate, Chris Thompson and Payton Peugh.
On Saturday, Jonathan Owens, Judi Jackson, Dallan Pope (40!), Taylor Huber, Kathy Willy, Beth Barclay, Nell Gordon and Lee Periman are blowing out the birthday candles.
Liz Montgomery, Doreen Porter, Cameron Dominquez and Cindy Jordan celebrate on Sunday.
Kathryn Eachon turns 88 on April 4, sharing the date with Marshall Meeks, Nancy Gurno, Keith Hanlon, Duffy Taylor, Ann Fox, Nicholas Kane, Pappy Butler and Toni Hackwith.
On Tuesday wish Sharon Stevenson, Terri McTavish, Sharon Wagner, Kelli Hawkins, John Negaard, Jamie Dallas and Gail Osterson a happy birthday.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.