02/05/2010 5:00 am
Culture
Liz Smith: Birthday Thanks From Liz
Also in our Gossip Girl's weekend dish, the divine Lynn Wyatt and mourning David Brown.
Your spurs never rust.
May your guts never rumble,
Your cinch never bust.
May your boots never pinch
Your crops never fail.
While you eat lots of chicken
– fried –
And stay out of jail.”
This is the Abilene, TX, Cowboy’s Prayer sent to me by Joe Armstrong, the so-called Mayor of Michael’s restaurant, and my longtime friend.
This was almost the capper on Groundhog Day after so many “Happy Birthdays” sung over the phone and stacks of e-mails and very nice bottles of wine and beautiful flowers, not to forget my housekeeper, Rachel Clark, who gifted me with brand-new underwear. (She knows what a busy girl needs!) But, of course, celebrity appreciator that I am – Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s personal call wishing me a happy was the icing on the cake. Then the hostess-mover-and-shaker Toni Goodale laid on a dinner party with birthday cake and distinguished guests. And that was a surprise.
I want to thank one and all, including the astrologist Michael Lutin, who warned all Aquarians to be on their guard, adding “just watch out if there’s a shot fired.” So, let that be a warning to you and to me. I don’t think there’s a chance I can answer these many e-mails, so gratitude to one and all for thinking of me so kindly, including the many who chimed in on the wOw website. And I loved Whoopi and her man Tom’s beautiful gardenia and flowers.
All in all, being 87 years old is no worse than being 80 (that really hurt) and when I consider the alternative, I am happy to still be here. I do want to especially thank David Patrick Columbia who wrote on his New York Social Diary site the following: “The number – 87 – is correct but the concept has wandered so far from reality for her that actually it’s funny. She’s younger today than I was at 40, or even 30 and hipper than any 20-year-old I’ve ever met.”
This was ridiculously extravagant, but very “en-couragin’” to quote the late actress Ruth Gordon when she accepted her Oscar at a great age.
***
NOW FOR a Texan who is really different! The divine, best-dressed and best friend to so many, Lynn Wyatt of Houston. She can be found this month in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar. (It boasts Kate Moss on the cover.)
The magazine is right; they call Lynn the most prominent grande dame in the Lone Star State, saying it with both glitzy photos and text. They declare her the top of the heap for decades. This is the beautiful Lynn’s first interview since her husband, Oscar, was caught up in an oil-for-food scandal and went to prison. Then when Oscar emerged, he had a stroke and for the past three years, Lynn has been his most loyal helpmate. (While Oscar was incarcerated, I recall asking Lynn why she didn’t just stay in New York and enjoy herself. She said, “Well, I can’t do that, honey, I have to mostly be in Texas to visit Oscar every weekend that I can!”)
In this piece Lynn talks about some of her famous friends – Elton John, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Jay Lane, Carolina Herrera – and how loyal they have been. “People I didn’t even think were my friends came forward.”
My favorite thing in this article is Lynn telling of her early dating days before she met the serious men in her life. “I used to scarf down two dinners – one with my parents and then one with whomever I was dating. I didn’t want to be eating more than my date.”
Lynn and I have been in a few trenches together. We tried between us to help Truman Capote when he was in so much trouble at the end of his life. Her generosities are legend. I think writer Anamaria Wilson caught Lynn Wyatt’s glamour and reality to a tee.
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7 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
In three years, you really will be the grande dame of dish although honestly I hope everyone focuses on your birthday instead of your age - one of our society mavens ran an item about one of our grande dames in Houston and made mention of her age which I knew but few did and suddenly, well, she felt old. Telling her she looked 42 instead of 92 didn’t help. Every time she looked in the mirror, she finally felt 92.
In fact, she was ageless. As are you. Here’s to your 100th birthday. That no one will realize is your 100th.
Lynn Wyatt shouldn’t be surprised how loyal even her enemies were - she has always been loyal to them. Including the enemies. Who she usually disarmed with that smile of hers. I’ve only known her in passing but everywhere I’ve been through the years when people ask where Im from and I tell them Houston, they always ask if I know Lynn Wyatt. She’s as legendary as Oscar and her loyalty to him through it all finally sums her up best. Truly a treasure. As is Oscar.
And the "Texas Blessing" will be reproduced and hung on my wall - this must be Texas Day on wowOwow.
Happy Birthday Liz -
We saluted you (and Elaine Stritch) in my column in The Westchester Guardian this week. As for 87, it’s a fantastic number, but in my mind’s eye I’m already ‘seeing’ Feb 2, 2011’s extravaganza for you in a shimmering black and white piano motif.
Happy Birthday and thanks for being you. You’re an inspiration to us all.
Love, Shelley
To Liz:
87 years old? Just a number, my dear.
Age has no meaning when one has no fear.
For years you have walked, at a pace brisk and strong,
Boot-heels a-tapping, carefully mapping
The deeds of haves, the have-nots and the wrong.
You danced at the parties, and drank the champagne.
While other folk faded, or ached from the strain,
Your energy grew, and onward you flew
Through the years and the decades, with insight so clear.
87, you say? Well, here’s what I pray:
Shine up those boots, for I don’t give two hoots
For a number that can’t measure years
Of great insight and wit. The candles are lit,
Wishes are wished, and just hear those cheers -
Lizzie, my dear, here’s to MANY more years!
I guess I should read before commenting and all I can say about Lynn Wyatt after having read the story is sometimes she smiles too much and I was a little taken aback by her referring to "the mess" by comparing Oscar to a child on drugs - some invitations must have not arrived for the more conservative dinner parties and she thought she would toss them Oscar along with a bone. Dreadful.
While there were a few other indictments in the scandal they seem to have been more about stirring up public sentiment and giving the impression that justice was being served and the dangerous criminals were being rounded up and being sent off to the guillotine.
Oscar Wyatt’s real crime was speaking out about the Gulf War. And about the Bushes. Those familiar with the oil and gas industry know that there wasn’t an independent or a multi-national company that weren’t also paying the "surcharges" which are quite common.
As for the element of "trading with the enemy" Halliburton was doing the same thing in Iran all these years questions finally were raised about it. No one I know is aware of any indictments.
Lynn really doesn’t so look so divine at the moment.