Georgia Frontiere's Blog, page 2

Lonely Thoughts

After a busy morning meeting two new clients, I took a break for lunch. Feeling particularly alone, I found myself visiting my daughter Julie’s bedroom, and I had to laugh at myself. This is the same behavior I exhibited with some regularity last year after Jeff left home for college. Julie has been gone just a month, and though my work schedule is quite full, the loneliness thickens with each passing day. It’s beginning to envelop me like a slow moving marine layer coming in off the ocean.

I find myself wondering how my baby girl will have changed the next time I see her. How long will it take before she doesn’t need me at all? It was subtle with her brother, Jeff. Upon his return for the holidays during his freshman year he seemed to have a new firmness of being. I clearly sensed the presence of the grown man he’s becoming, and with each return visit I sense it more and more. The world is shaping him now; I am no longer at the helm. So too will it be with Julie.

Sitting on the side of her bed, I play with the tassels dangling from the old silk lampshade we purchased together so long ago. It’s the same shade of rose as in the quilt she inherited from her great-grandmother Irene. The quilt that still covers her bed.

It’s time for lunch. I miss my girl.

It’s Been Fun

This has been a great adventure. My mother would have been over the moon if she were here to witness the positivity surrounding the release of her novel, Horoscope: The Astrology Murders.

Posting on Kelly York’s blog has allowed me to engage with you, her fans. Like you, I’ve gotten to know and admire Kelly as I’ve read her posts. And now you have the opportunity to get to know her even better as you see how she used her intuition and astrological knowledge in Horoscope: The Astrology Murders. I’ve been pleased to be able to interact with you these past few weeks, and I hope you’ll continue to follow Kelly on her blog.

Yours,

Lucia

Dreams Come True

Sometimes everything comes together in the most unexpected ways.

That was the case for the St. Louis Rams in 1999. Our highly touted starting quarterback, Trent Green, tore his ACL early in the season. We were devastated.

That day, Rams president John Shaw called my mom, who helmed the team. The two had planned to meet for dinner that evening.

“Georgia, I have terrible news,” he said. “I can’t eat! I’m so upset.”

Mom replied, “Don’t be silly, Johnny! I’ve done Kurt’s chart and everything is going to be fine—we might even win the Super Bowl!”

Backup QB Kurt Warner, born on the Gemini-Cancer cusp, was one of several players who stepped up that season to become a hero in the NFL version of a Cinderella story.

As I mentioned before, it’s been 15 years since the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in what was dubbed “The Greatest Show on Turf.” The team had a great big celebration here in St. Louis on Sunday at Union Station.

Not unlike Cinderella’s story, publishing this book, Horoscope: The Astrology Murders, was a dream come true for our family—as it would have also been for my mother.

Mom was always a big dreamer with big plans, and even after her death, she still manages to surprise people! Like Coach Dick Vermeil, who didn’t know Mom wrote a book.  At the celebration on Sunday, I told him she’d been writing notes about this character for years, using whatever scraps of paper she could find to turn her ideas into reality.  After my explanation, he put his hand on my shoulder and said he missed her. Vermeil, one of the best to ever coach the game, also gave a touching word of thanks to our family at the public celebration.

That wasn’t the only nod to one of the greatest seasons ever.

It was St. Louis-style throwback time at Monday Night Football: the end-zones were painted blue with simple, vintage “St. Louis” lettering, current players wore throwback uniforms and fans all across the stadium wore jerseys featuring the names of players from the 1999 team. Most of the players from that championship team—including Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Kurt Warner, Torry Holt and D’Marco Farr—came out onto the field at halftime, along with Coach Vermeil, who said a few words about the family we created that season.

And before the game began, I had the opportunity to spend time with several board members from local nonprofit Safe Connections, which works to prevent and end domestic and sexual violence while helping survivors reclaim their lives. As you might remember, part of the proceeds of Mom’s book will benefit this wonderful organization. From the sidelines, we watched the MNF broadcasters get ready, and the players warm up and, of course, we saw the throngs of excited fans that surrounded us on the field.

I also had a chance to see Mom’s book on sale in the team store. How many stadiums sell books? The Rams organization was a pleasure to work with 15 years ago, and still is now.

Thank you, St. Louis, for another warm, friendly welcome.  I’ve had a wonderful time talking up Mom’s book. Stay tuned for the next installment of the soon-to-be Horoscope series!

Yours,

Lucia

On Tour with Book in Hand, Memories in Mind

The great aspect about returning to St. Louis is that everyone has a different memory or story about my mom and her larger-than-life personality.

I had a chance to talk with FOX 2’s John Pertzborn on Thursday morning. And, of all things, he found a vintage Coca-Cola tray with a pretty blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl on it drinking a soda.

“Is this your mother?”

I laughed. And said yes.

On Friday, at radio station KTRS-550, I chatted with McGraw Milhaven and Erin O’Neill Hayes about how Mom was always working on this book. Each time I go back and reread parts of it, I see a new side of my mom. I think Dr. Kelly York was a character created from parts of my mother’s life—after all, the protagonist had two children: a boy and girl, just like Chip and me.

While Mom wrote this mystery, she also left a series of mysteries for Dr. Kelly York to solve. Part of my next literary adventure will be tying all the plot lines together for the next installment of the Horoscope series.

Of course, it’s impossible to be here and not think of the Rams. In St. Louis this past weekend, the franchise commemorated the team’s 1999 Super Bowl XXXIV win with an event known as Greatest Show on Turf. This was such a highlight of my life and my mother’s life. I had the chance to share Horoscope with Coach Dick Vermeil and other staff and players from that season. Coach even gave a special shout-out to my mom and our family.

I’ll have more Rams-related moments to share. Tonight I’ll be on the field just before Monday Night Football to talk about Mom and the book’s partnership with Safe Connections.

Stay tuned!

Yours,

Lucia

The Stars Align in St. Louis

The stars aligned for my mom’s book launch Wednesday.

I was so honored to be with those who knew Mom and to be able to use this special time to help people in need through our partnership with Safe Connections.

As I wondered what to say to the crowd Wednesday night at independently owned STLBooks, I was flooded with fantastic memories of Mom, who had so many talents and passions. She was always writing, and she would recite her poetry during dinner. And after dinner, she sang! She loved to give people more than they expected, so for those that knew her well, this book might not have been too much of a surprise.

My brother, Chip, and I always knew about the “mystery novel” Mom was plotting. And even when she wasn’t talking about it, she was scribbling her thoughts about Dr. Kelly York on cocktail napkins or sticky notes—and carrying them all around in a large plastic box that never left her side for long. When we found that box with the handwritten first draft of Horoscope, Chip and I knew we had to see the project through to completion on her behalf.

My grandmother “Nana” and my Mom set such a wonderful example for me and my family on the importance of philanthropy and giving back to the community. Safe Connections is not only a wonderful organization, but I think it would be dear to Mom’s heart. She and Nana—who was an entrepreneur well before women entrepreneurs were widely accepted—were both strong, independent women. I know that they would be so happy to help victims of domestic violence—of which 90 percent are women—get back on their feet.

I also know Mom would have enjoyed herself at this party!

We’ve got more exciting stops on the way this week. Stay tuned!

Yours,

Lucia

Meet Me in St. Louis

I’m so excited to have arrived in St. Louis, and I’m looking forward to all that awaits me here.

Mom always taught my brother and me to give back. These lessons made an impression on my life, and through Mom’s example, I have made philanthropy part of my life’s philosophy and mission.

After my mom died of breast cancer, we started “Team Georgia.” We collected more than $180,000 in donations for breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure St. Louis. Each year, we give out $20,000 through the Georgia Frontiere Community Quarterback Awards. The St. Louis Rams NFL team, of which my mother was once the majority owner, has donated more than $270,000 to this project to date.

Part of the legacy Mom instilled in everyone in our family—especially me—is to help others. That’s why we scheduled the first book-related event to celebrate not only the novel’s launch but to also continue our philanthropy efforts.  A portion of the book’s November and December proceeds will benefit St. Louis-based nonprofit Safe Connections. This organization is one of the area’s oldest and largest organizations working to prevent and end domestic and sexual violence.

We’ve invited some of my mom’s friends to attend, too. I know if Mom were still here, she’d love to be at this book party!

Yours,

Lucia

Preparing for an Adventure

I’m making preparations to head to St. Louis this week. I’m honoring my mother, Georgia Frontiere, by promoting her book, Horoscope: The Astrology Murders.

You’ve been following the novel’s main character, Dr. Kelly Elizabeth York, on this blog. My mother always had a fascination for astrology and psychology, and I imagine she had an opportunity to explore these two fields throughDr. York’s character.

This book had been a part of my mother’s life—and mine—for years before my mother died in 2008.

We both love to write—and to use our imagination! Mom always encouraged me to be creative. As Mom developed the character of Dr. Kelly York, she would read snippets of the book to me over the phone. I paid back her childhood encouragement as an adult by supporting Mom to keep working on the adventures of a smart, brave, and sensitive woman, like Dr. York, that we could all admire. When Mom got excited, she would spin dinner-party tales of the thrilling adventures of Dr. York. Everyone loved hearing her tell them, including me.

Inher papers, Mom left us Dr. York stories. When my brother, Chip, and I decided we wanted to put the book together, we called in family friend and editor extraordinaire, Mark Bruce Rosin, to edit what we had and transform those notes into a novel. We had an opportunity to collaborate here, too, as all those creative conversations with Mom helped me contribute to the book’s edits.

Creativityran through my mother’s blood. She was born into a show business family in St. Louis. (Grandmother was Miss St. Louis of 1926!) In her early adulthood, Mom had traveled the country and toured with the USO.

Ihave fond memories of the city, too. I spent parts of many childhood summers visiting my family in St. Louis. I’m looking forward to honoring my mother’s legacy in the city she cherished both as a child and as an adult.

Yours,

Lucia

Intro to Lucia

This blog has been a joy to write. I am so grateful for my readers, and I truly love sharing my day-to-day experiences, astrological predictions, and inner thoughts with you. I have found great relief and inner calm from posting my weekly journal entries.

With that said, I would like to announce that I will be taking a brief hiatus from blogging. I am excited to hand the blog over to Lucia Rodriguez, the brilliant daughter of the late author and philanthropist, Georgia Frontier. For the next two weeks Lucia will be documenting her journey of the promotion and release of Georgia Frontier’s long-awaited work of fiction, Horoscope: The Astrology Murders. Check back here for updates on the book release, press coverage, and charity events. You are in good hands.

DR. KELLY ELIZABETH YORK’S ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST FOR OCTOBER 2014

HIGHLIGHTS: October brings with it intense energies involving two eclipses. On October 8 we will experience a lunar eclipse in the sign of Aries, and on October 23 there will be a solar eclipse in Scorpio. The Sun and Venus also will enter transformational Scorpio on October 23. If that weren’t enough, the planet Mercury retrogrades on October 4, not to go direct until October 25, providing a chaotic backdrop for much of the month.

For you Libras, in the first three weeks of the month all relationships are emphasized and challenged, and you will experience a heightened sensitivity in pondering political alliances, as well as in evaluating personal friendships and romantic relationships. In general, for all of us, Libran energy stands for cooperative action, harmony, teamwork and impartial attitudes. In our consciousness, the energy of Libra this month will make us long for peace and cooperation. Our tendency will be to want to resolve our problems by arbitration rather than by force.

This month you are asked to rethink, review and revise the most important relationships in your life, but you’ll do well to wait until Mercury retrograde is over. Mercury goes retrograde early in the month on October 4 and doesn’t reverse its motion until October 25. During this time, avoid starting major projects or making significant purchases if possible. This will be an excellent time to reflect on your relationships and creative expression, as well as how your entertainment choices are influencing your consciousness. Intuitive flashes can really flow at this time and may provide important and surprising insights of which you were previously unaware.

On October 8, a full moon eclipse will occur in the sign of Ares, which lends the possibility of embodying our authentic personality to its fullest. We could explore how we might serve society with our individual and unique gifts. Also, with such a powerful experience of self-awareness that this full moon eclipse lends us, we will be able to eliminate those things that don’t serve our evolution.

The Sun enters the intense waters of Scorpio on October 23, the same date as the solar eclipse. Eclipses always signify new beginnings and transformation. Perhaps this month this eclipse is even more transformational because Scorpio is the sign of resurrection, signified by the phoenix, which represents regenerative powers. Intense action, passionate drive, resolute effort, endurance and unflinching courage are basic to the Scorpio nature. For Scorpios, this latter part of the month emphasizes their innate power, which can be likened to that of a seething volcano, impossible to contain.

Interestingly enough, Scorpio likes to hide its emotional depth and passion, and with all of us experiencing the energy of Scorpio at the end of the month, we can enjoy putting on our Halloween costumes to become someone else. The dance of Halloween’s mystery is where Scorpion energy thrives and where it feels right at home.

 

Giving even more energy to all things Scorpio, Venus, the planet of love, enters Scorpio hand in hand with the Sun on October 23. Significant relationships bound by love could likely experience a positive transformation. Wealth, creation, occult activities, psychology and investigations will be strongly energized at this time. The love of the investigation process is crucial. So dive deeply into the mysterious unknown.

 

Until next month, remember one KEY to making the unconscious conscious is to face life’s twists and turns through the wisdom of astrology. Carl Jung warned, “Until you make the unconscious conscious it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

My Empty Nest

Jeff has been in Los Angeles since mid-August. School started August 25th and we have been Skyping as often as he will permit. USC is on a semester schedule, so Jeff’s school starts more than a month before Julie’s. Last year—his freshman year—I flew out with Jeff. I stayed in a hotel downtown, bought him linens for his dorm room, and took him and his roommate out to dinner. I miss him, but I know he’s happy and settling into his sophomore year.

Early in the summer I asked Julie if she wanted to fly out to Los Angeles with Jeff, but she insisted on staying in New York City a bit longer. UCLA follows a quarterly system; therefore, Julie’s first day of classes is Thursday, October 2nd.

Jack and Julie flew to LA the first week of September. As much as I wanted to go too, I knew how important this was to Jack, so I promised myself I wouldn’t intervene. This will be the longest Julie and I have ever been apart.

The only time I lived on my own was the two years I spent at Northwestern before Jack and I got married. I know how terrified and excited Julie must feel. At least I can rest a little easier knowing her older brother is close by.

Back to reality. I ordered Chinese takeout for me and Emma. I think I hear the deliveryman at the door.

Image courtesy of kanate at FreeDigitalPhotos.net