So, as if being Maude and Dorothy Zbornak -- and the patron saint of MommyLand -- wasn't enough, it turns out that Queen of the Universe Bea Arthur was. also. a. Marine!
She totally enlisted! And, had to go through some process where someone "evaluated" her. We don't know if this was a good idea...she probably slapped a few people with sandwiches. One of the reports "...described her conversation as 'argumentative' and her attitude and manner as 'over-aggressive.'
OHMYMAUDE! She's totally Kate.
And, she's totally Lydia too! Someone wrote this about her: "Officious--but probably a good worker--if she has her own way!"
She also wrote that her hobbies included hunting with a .22 caliber rifle and “bow and arrow.”
Her. Hobbies. Included. Shooting. Things.
She also got herself into a little trouble...in the form of of misconduct report. Which is naughty for two reasons. One, because that *totally* goes on your permanent record or something. And, two, because of (and, again, we're quoting here) "...Arthur’s contracting of a venereal disease, which left her 'incapacitated for duty' for five weeks in late 1944. As a result, her pay was reduced for that period."
And this is what we think she'd think about that:
Oh Maude...how we lurve you.
xoxo Kate and Lydia
(c)Herding Turtles, Inc. 2009 - 2010
Thats amazingly awesome. Also, Jebus! What kind of venereal disease leaves you incapacitated for 5 weeks??
ReplyDeletey'all must actually be spies afterall. How did you find this stuff?
ReplyDeleteI. LOVE. MAUDE!!
Yeah! One of my favorite actresses! Awesome to know she was a rebel - I wonder if VD is code for miscarriage....
ReplyDeleteLovety love love LOVE Bea. And I wouldn't have messed with her. Man, she is as bad-ass as Julia Child! There is a cage match the world missed out on. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteSCHMOLY!!!! That is pure awesomesauce. My 4 year old is taking after me and her great-great aunt. She asked Santa for a k-bar (the knife the navy seals use) and a bow with lots of 'carbon tiped' arrows. The santa (aka Howard in everyday life) did tell her that weapons were not delivered. She settled for a Barbie. And then asked Grandpa...
ReplyDeleteMy aunt though, she was the first woman to ever recieve a Purple Heart. In Africa during WW2. She was an amazing nurse that took great risks to save her patients. I can only hope my daughter was hoping to defend our family... I have a sneaking suspicion that she was plotting against her big sisters though!
5 weeks?? Holy schmidt.
ReplyDeleteI wondered on Yahoo why she was "trending"... then saw a blurb about it... yours is so much better.
ReplyDeleteamazingness!!! vd? 5 wks? Hmmmmmm. Well, let's just say she probably had a heck of a good time getting it! LOL WHEW! and I can't help it, everytime you say "maude" I think of that old lady cartoon that cracks me up!!! she's a keeper too! You girls are crazy and I love you....in a sistery sort of way. Tipping the T-box for ya! Or um...at ya? to ya? whatever. It's tipped!
ReplyDeleteEverytime I hear about her I laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I haven't heard yet is that she was a lesbian for 5 wks too! haha
I have ABSOLUTELY loved Bea forever, and as a Navy vet, this makes me lover her EVEN MORE!
ReplyDeleteI'd intended to leave the link for this earlier, but got distracted by the birthday post! LOL
And she was a hottie!
ReplyDeleteAwesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely tribute! There is no end to the badassitude of this sassy, saucy lady, who has been a friend to women, the elderly, Jews, LGBT, and animals since way before it was trendy. Love her and love you guys!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I believe there is a dog park in Norfolk, VA that was named in her honor. Just a little factoid...
Even MORE reason for me to love her! She was one of us!
ReplyDelete