Poor Dorothy Parker
It is a cliche where Dorothy Parker is involved but Poor Dorothy Parker. We all know how she lived 40 years longer than she had to and died an unloved alcoholic. But they couldn't even get her epitaph right. It is:
"HERE LIE THE ASHES OF DOROTHY PARKER [1893 - 1967] HUMORIST, WRITER,CRITIC. DEFENDER OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS. FOR HER EPITAPH SHE SUGGESTED, 'EXCUSE MY DUST'. THIS MEMORIAL GARDEN IS DEDICATED TO HER NOBLE SPIRIT WHICH CELEBRATED THE ONENESS OF HUMANKIND AND TO THE BONDS OF EVERLASTING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BLACK AND JEWISH PEOPLE. DEDICATED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE. OCTOBER 20, 1988."
This is a very well-meaning memorial but I feel like it was written by some senile lady wearing enormous thick eyeglasses. How can you write an epitaph, include a reference to the epitaph that Mrs. Parker wanted and then write a completely different epitaph? It's one thing to ignore someone's last request but to say "This is what she really wanted but we're not going to let her have it" is pretty awful.
"HERE LIE THE ASHES OF DOROTHY PARKER [1893 - 1967] HUMORIST, WRITER,CRITIC. DEFENDER OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS. FOR HER EPITAPH SHE SUGGESTED, 'EXCUSE MY DUST'. THIS MEMORIAL GARDEN IS DEDICATED TO HER NOBLE SPIRIT WHICH CELEBRATED THE ONENESS OF HUMANKIND AND TO THE BONDS OF EVERLASTING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BLACK AND JEWISH PEOPLE. DEDICATED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE. OCTOBER 20, 1988."
This is a very well-meaning memorial but I feel like it was written by some senile lady wearing enormous thick eyeglasses. How can you write an epitaph, include a reference to the epitaph that Mrs. Parker wanted and then write a completely different epitaph? It's one thing to ignore someone's last request but to say "This is what she really wanted but we're not going to let her have it" is pretty awful.
posted by apk01004 at 2:27 AM
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