Joots and Ginny

Some of my friends call me "Joots." Being that Ginny is a far cry from Joots, I'd never have imagined as a child that this would become my nickname. So, how did that happen? Well, Miss Judy Garland happened.

I've been almost rediscovering how Judy has touched my life lately and I've found so many similarities of the Garland family to my own family. The drama that touched the Garland family seems extremely harsh to some, but a lot of it is so close to what I've witnessed during my lifetime. Like Judy's dramatic circumstances, these things don't dominate my life. I would never let them, it's the laughter and the music and my friends that keep me level headed. I can definitely identify with the drive Miss Garland had to live her life her own way as much as she could.

I can also identify with Lorna Luft's children, as I would like to know my Grandmother (who died before I was old enough to have clear memories or draw the line between true memories and the images I have of her from the stories I've been told). It's hard to have someone in your life who is prominently in the center of the family or in the spotlight continually praised before you and looked upon with the strong emotional pull that Judy has over the world and her family and not feel slighted that you didn't get a chance to be a part of that. There is always a constant reminder of that person right before you and the lingering notion that you will never completely own a piece to the puzzle.

I think in many ways, Judy was the example for me of a strong, witty, incredibly smart woman to look up to. I've always longed for these qualities in an older woman and never really had an example of that. The Grandma I have that is still alive acts a lot younger than she is--which is wonderful in one way, but in another I feel as if I belong in her generation and she belongs in mine. I've always been told how much my other Grandma loved Judy and how much we would have in common and that's something I can see her though Judy. What Lorna's children have on me is all the media that Judy was a part of. As far as I know, there are no moving images of my Grandma, no recordings of her voice ... just the pictures that are rare since she was always the one recording the family history.



If anyone else told a story the way Judy did, in a lot of cases it wouldn't have been funny. Judy had that extra zing and cuteness to pull it off. I adore that. She could do anything.

Judy was also very down to earth and human. She holds a certain piece of the hearts of those who love her, because she means so many things to so many different people. She was an amazing human being and one full of warmth and laughter, and most important of all, life. She never shunned life, she always took it by the ears and came back when things became bleak. Having lived through TMJ (severe headaches that were chronic) and other less colorful events in my life, I can identify with that. It's about not dwelling on the bad and remembering that laughter is the milk of life and communicating in song can be a sort of therapy. Judy gave us lots of both and never forgot how much they meant to her fans and those she loved.

Judy was the only of her kind. There will never be another human to replace her, as she was the one and only. As Liza said once, "Thank God for film." Well, thanks for film and recordings and everything that gave us Judy. All the technicians that paved the way for her to be heard and seen. Thanks to her family and friends for sharing her with us and my deepest thanks to Judy for being Judy or rather, Frances Ethel Gumm. Judy Garland will live in our hearts forever.

As for me, I became Joots because I was talking about how it was Judy's nickname from Mickey Rooney with my cousin and she decided "Joots" suited me fine. Others started using the name and now I'm happily stuck with the title. "Joots" Garland and "Joots" Sayre go a long way back. From the Wizard Of Oz when I was just a child to the way we love gobs of butter on mashed potatoes, we have a lot in common. I think singular most important aspect we have in common is our love of music and laughter.

Judy's music and laughter will always live on. If not through me, the others that follow my generation.

Thanks, "Joots!"

Ginny "Joots" Sayre