Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing and My Friend Heather
I was so sorry to hear that Patrick Swayze died. I loved to watch him dance. We watched Dirty Dancing for the first time in its entirety a few weeks ago. (I'd seen snippets on t.v. before). I wasn't at all sure it would be our kind of movie, but it was actually pretty good. I especially enjoyed, what else, the dancing! I went to school with one of the dancers and was very close friends with her sister, Julie, in middle school. Her name is Heather Gerdes and I met her when she was a 7th grader with waist length hair. I spent time with her talented family, even went to their rehearsal and a recital once, so I guess I "knew her when." She was featured quite a bit, even dancing briefly with Patrick Swayze at one point. I knew she'd gone all over the world to teach dance and do choreography after the movie came out. I found a bio of her here. Apparently she's a script supervisor now. We enjoyed the movie much more than we expected we would, and I was impressed with how often she was shown. I thought I might post about it some time, but then when I heard that Patrick Swayze had died, I decided to pay tribute to him as well. I knew him only as an actor and dancer, but my heart goes out to his family and friends who really knew him as a person.
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10 comments:
Thanks for your comment about my Mount Rushmore post Rosezilla. There has been a lot of new work done in the past 20 years as so many more visitors have been coming to see it.
I felt sad about Patrick Swayze. He seemed to be a very nice person, and was so positive that he was going to get better.
I was sad too. Dirty Dancing is one of my all time favorite movies.
He and his dancing skills will be missed.
It's very sad to hear of Patrick Swayze's passing. My heart goes out to his family. He looked so fraile in recent pictures. It was hard to see him like that and then to remember him in Dirty Dancing. Dirty Dancing was always one of my favorie movies. It's right up there with The Notebook and Pretty Woman. It was interesting to read about your friend. I think that movie will long be remembered by many of us. I hope you have a nice evening friend.
He was a favorite of mine, too. His rugged good looks, charming smile, and amazing talent could have given him a swelled head. Yet he remained humble and human; all the more reason I liked him.
Sadly, there's just too few Patricks to go around. He'll be missed.
I really loved Patrick Swayze too but most of all I admired his apparent love and commitment to his wife. How sad for her. I too have talented dancer friends and wish I had an ounce of that talent.
Beautiful post. I agree, it is so sad that he is gone. Most of all, as he was so young...
How intersting you knew one of the dancers.
Have a nice Wedensday.;)
xo
My favorite Patrick Swayze movie is Ghost. So sad about his death. My dad died of pancreatic cancer at age 60, just three years older than Patrick. It is a horrible, debilitating disease.
Rhymes, I am so sorry about your dad. My father in law died of it as well, 8 yrs ago, but you're right - what a horrible disease. It also tends to take people way too young.
Tracie, this was a nice tribute and I love that you knew the famous dancer!! (BTW - I answered questions on the Associated Writing comments back in the comments on that article ... you'd be great there).
My condolences to both Bob and Susan on their dads. I don't know much about the disease, but I saw the pictures as Patrick Swayze progressed through it, and they were painful to see.
Susan, thank you so much for the information, as well as your encouragement. I will definitely look in to it more thoroughly.
I haven't ever seen Dirty Dancing in its entirity either. I was very sorry to hear of Patrick Swayze losing his battle with cancer. He showed great commitment in his work and relationships. He was brave and showed great dignity. Having lost my Mum to cancer I know of the release to those suffering. x
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