Karen LeonardMolly Ivins died this morning.
I had the wonderful pleasure of escorting Jessica Mitford (Decca) and Molly Ivins through SCI's Funeral Museum in Texas. We were ushered into a plush, posh antechamber and seated on an upholstered bench in front of a wide screen picture screen. A hidden projector came on and a lavish production called "The History of Funerals" came on with much musical fanfare. A picture of the famous Gaza Pyramid spread across the screen and a deep sonorous voice boomed out, "The History of Funerals Begins With The Ancient Egyptians!" Suddenly, Decca leaned across me to Molly and chirped in her British accent, "Now there was a culture whose Funeral Directors really got out of hand!" Molly and I never saw the rest of that film; we had to step outside, leaning like drunkards against the building, holding our sides and wiping away tears of laughter.
Both of these wonderful women of wit will be sorely missed.