I Loved Lucy: My Friendship with Lucille Ball

I was really fortunate to acquire this book at a low price- it was a steal!

Lee Tannen meet Lucille Ball during the second last decade of her life and he relates about his friendship with her.

Review:
This is an extremely interesting read, and valuable too, because most books focus on Lucille's younger days and end a few years after her painful divorce from Desi Arnaz. They say Lucille wasn't funny when she wasn't Lucy Ricardo, I think that she was funnier than most authors gave credit for! After reading this book, Lucille struck me as an eccentric and adorable grandmother that I would like to have. I would have definitely doted on her, reassured her daily, accompanied her as much as I can, and given her the hugs that would suck the breath right out of her!

 Lee Tannen truly loved Lucy. I'm sure he wrote the book not for financial gains, but he wanted to share another side of Lucy with us. I really thank him, and I am really thankful that Lucy had met such a wonderful guy in her later years to brighten up her life and to give genuine support. God bless you, Lee!

I felt incredibly sad at certain parts, specifically after I read Lee and Lucy's estrangement for a year after Lee threw a terrible tantrum in the limo, Lucy's inability to be intimate with her children and grandchildren, Lucy's career failures after taking some ill-given advice, and Desi's death. My heart kept breaking, and it was, and still is hard to connect her to the Lucille Ball Arnaz. The divorce certainly led her to hiding a part of herself from the rest of the world.

In fact, purely in my opinion, there are 4 segments of Lucille's life that are so different that I cannot seem to connect them together. I mean, people don't change that much abruptly, right? The young and reckless Lucy who used to hang out with the notorious boys before her movie days; the serious dramatic, comedy and film noir actress  days, Desi Arnaz and I Love Lucy days, and after divorce days all add up to explain the complex woman who achieved so much. She remains the only idol and role model I have, and the fact that a big celebrity like her who is only human makes me love her more!

I'm still hesitant to flip to the last chapter of the book because I know what I am going to find will make me cry. In fact, all of Lucy's books leave me a sad, tingling feeling. All except her own biography, Love, Lucy. I suppose it's because Lucille stopped at the part where she and Gary Morton got married and she was on her way to finding happiness once more.

I would greatly recommend this book, not only because any information about Lucy is a treasure to me, but because Lee brought a touch of humanity into even the most horrible stories. Many readers found the author a little creepy, but I have to say that based purely on experience (not stereotyping homosexuals but I get this feeling from Lee too), I have a lot of gay friends who are affectionate, flamboyant and expressive. I think that there's nothing wrong about his deep admiration for her and the only way he could have fawned about this wonderful woman was to be affectionate, flamboyant and expressive. Some readers also pointed out that Lee loved Lucy only because she was Lucille Ball. Who wouldn't? I mean, he probably really did, but I gathered that he truly cared for her as a person and not as a star after their friendship became stronger.

Whatever it is, the book should be a collection for any Lucy fans! Of course, don't take all the stories to heart because after all, they are not related to us from the horse's mouth! Don't judge Gary Morton too negatively, because I've read so many different stories about him that I don't think the stories presented to us make us fit to judge him.

Ratings: 4.5/5

So Touched

The book "I Loved Lucy, My Friendship with Lucille Ball" by Lee Tannem just arrived today and I've spent the entire day reading it. I'll do a book review on it soon, but if you can, get a hold on this awesome book!

Here's something I'll like to share with Lucy fans.

"... I [Lee] sifted through the pile of photos and came across a note from a private stationed at Fort Bragg with no picture attached. He said he was sorry for intruding on Lucy's privacy but he was writing on behalf of his mother. She had terminal cancer and she was too weak to leave the house to see Lucy in person in the hotel lobby as so many of her friends had earlier that day. He wrote that his mother worshipped Lucy and for the last thirty years she kept trying, unsuccessfully, to dye her hair the same shape as Lucy's. He gave his mother's address and asked Lucy if when she went back to California she could autograph a color photo of herself and send it on to his mom.


Lucy was visibly moved when I read her the note. "Get her phone number from information, right now," Lucy ordered.


"Aye, aye, sergeant," I said. She didn't laugh. I got the phone number and Lucy dialed.


"God, I hate these damn newfangled Touch-Tone phones," she mumbled.


The private's mother answered and Lucy introduced herself. "This is Lucille Ball... Lucy, and I hope I'm not disturbing you." Evidently, the woman thought that one of her friends was pulling a prank, and it took Lucy a minute or two to convince her that she was the genuine article. Lucy found out that the woman and she were the same age, and that they each had a son and daughter, and that they were both originally from upstate New York. Lucy told her that not only was she going to send her a personalized autograph color shot of herself, but also a year's supply of henna rise. Lucy told her to take care of herself and to get well soon. Then Lucy hung up and went into the other room and cried.


...


Lucy was very tired so I started going through the mail, and came across this letter, which I handed to Lucy. She closed her eyes and told me to read it aloud to her.

Dear Miss Ball:

My mother told me that talking to you on the phone was the happiest day of her life. Sadly, I must report it was also the last day of her life. She died peacefully in her sleep in the middle of the night. There are no words for my family and I to adequately express our thanks and deep appreciation for your most kind gesture. We are holding a memorial service next week in Oneida, New York, my mother's hometown. If you could send the colored autographed picture of yourself like you promised my mom, we will proudly display it at the ceremony. My best wishes and God bless you.

It was signed with love by the private first class.


Lucy was stunned but she said nothing. She turned her head away, reclined in her seat, and just stared out the window until the plane landed one hour later."

Lucille Ball was such an awesome lady who appreciated her fans. They don't make Hollywood stars like that today.

I hope you enjoyed this short excerpt from the book.