Joan Rivers

Say what you want about Joan Rivers. She was kind to my mother. For that, she ranks mighty high on my short list of celebrities I have a full measure of respect for. I'll let Mom tell it...

“You look good.” she said, but I knew she meant ‘for someone your age who could use a nip and tuck’. I had told her my age. Five years older than she. Standing right beside her I looked closely at her face and thought to myself “You look really cute!”

I probably first saw her on Jack Paar but she didn’t register with me until she came on Johnny Carson. She was remarkably unattractive but she had her blonde hair in an elaborate hairdo and was wearing a designer dress to compensate. She was also very funny in a gossipy, yenta sort of way. Johnny kept inviting her back and she became a household name.

Besides her TV appearances my husband and I began to see her in small clubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles. I think he liked her as much as I did.

My husband passed away in 1980 and in1987 I moved to Ireland. When I moved back to Seattle in 1990 I noticed this ridiculous TV show that asked you to buy stuff from them and give them your credit card over the phone. Anyone would have to be nuts to do that. But shortly after that I was channel surfing and noticed Joan Rivers was on that show selling jewelry. JR and jewelry was enough to make me stop and look. I bought a Chanel copy of a gold chain watch with white leather woven through it. In the next 24 years, and counting, I made a notable contribution to QVC’s success and to Joan’s large estate.

When she first announced she was having a facelift it was quite shocking. No one admitted that. But she made it OK. And she could hardly hide the fact that her face was changing. She might have gotten addicted to it but in the long run she was proven right and she must have had a very good plastic surgeon.

She always said if any of her QVC customers ever came to one of her live shows she would welcome them backstage afterwards for a greet and meet. A few years ago she was making an appearance at a casino not far from where I live. My daughter-in-law, Sue, and my son Doug agreed to go with me. Sue was also a big fan. Doug was just indulging us. I told them we would go backstage after the show and meet her. Sue hoped it was true. Doug was sure I was dreaming. I wore a black coat and hat, because Joan always wore black, and a big pink leopard print scarf which I knew Joan would recognize, and a bracelet. Sue also wore some jewelry. We came early and got to our seats before the crowds. I saw the head usher across the room and said I would arrange our meeting. I could sense Doug scoffing. I told the usher what Joan had said about her customers and said we wanted to meet her. He said he would look into it. I sat down and could see Doug was still doubtful. I knew I always got what I wanted if I knew the game and how to play it. In a few minutes two men came up to us, took our names and very cheerfully and politely told us, after the show, to stand by the stage on the left side, and when Joan was ready we would be escorted backstage. She was her usual outrageous self and we all loved it. Sue was excited and Doug was beginning to think this might actually happen. We rushed to the stage and a number of well dressed people lined up behind us. We were first in line. Someone came up to the attendant and said we were VIP’s and were to be treated accordingly. This was even better than I thought it would be. Joan had changed her clothes and when we went in she was the charming, kind and thoughtful person her friends all said she was. We introduced ourselves and I showed her the bracelet I was wearing. She seemed very excited and grabbed my wrist. She asked the photographer to take a picture. She said she owned the original and it had been designed by the father of the famous Faberge. Joan was a huge Faberge and Russian admirer. Much of her stuff was inspired by them. She must not have made many of the bracelets. It was only on once and never seen again. I bought it because I loved it but didn’t bother to learn about it. It was gold plated with turquoise stones, turquoise enameling, pearls and faux diamonds. That night was the only time I have ever worn it. A week before Joan died I bought a very elaborate necklace in gold and turquoise. I was going to send it back because I thought I would never wear it. But it has become the perfect memento.

It seemed she went in the snap of the fingers, but she was at the peak of her career and we will always remember her at her best. When you get to eighty you know it’s coming but you don’t know when or how. You just hope it will be quick and painless. She got it right.

I nominate her for Woman of the Century. She totally created herself and kept rising from the ashes, never letting pain or failure stop her. An example for all of us. It is so hard to believe she is gone.