Jackson Free Press

Click below and pay no attention to the dark-haired yankee. Bless his heart; Jay Leno did NOT understand the greatness that was Marie Rudisill. Notice he calls her the character from "The Christmas Story." She is NOT the Bumpess Dogs you nimrod! She's Marie Rudisill, aunt to Truman Capote and rumored the distant cousin in "A Christmas MEMORY"; she and Truman both also have storied appearances in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."

She entertained us during her last southern decade as "The Fruitcake Lady" on "Late Night with Jay Leno." She also penned two cookbooks, one that is now out of print, and the other, of course, with fruitcake recipes.

Nevertheless, I'm still morning her death, which occured only a month ago. I *get* this lady. No, I'm not giving up youth, but I am putting my give-a-damn to rest on most days. When I re-read "A Christmas Memory" and think of the family dysfunction she likely endured among Capote's description of her as a woman who "never cursed" and could "tame hummingbirds," I know that her blunt tell-it-like-it-is outbursts are the imperitive results of dealing with a family full of possible whackaloons. She'd had it with the bullshit and she wasn't taking it anymore!

God bless you Marie Rudisill. This year I vow to make my first fruitcake. You will be missed, and I vow to approach the holidays with a bit of your candor and fearlessness. Say hi to Truman, Willie and Miss Eudora for us.

Remembering the Fruitcake Lady

Previous Comments

ID

109319

Comment

It would totally cheer me up if folks would ask me questions, and then I could answer them really rudely, while truthfully, with lots of cussing words. For example: Someone I know: "Well, if she thinks that surgery is more important than eating dinner with us that's her perogative. I can't make her do anything. I didn't even know she was sick! Well, you know she could pick up the phone every once in a while and call and tell us stuff. She never tells us stuff. I don't know why. Why do you think she doesn't tell us stuff?" Me: "Well good Lord. Becuase she knows y'all don't like her! And you for damn sure are going to go gossip any info she gives you, so why the hell should she? She's only coming to dinner because she HAS too or people in town will ask why she didn't, and then she'll have to say, "Because I think they're assholes, and I'd rather stay home!" Now she doesn't want to go telling everyone in town you're being an asshole, so just shut up about it and let it go!"

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-12-13T22:27:56-06:00

ID

109320

Comment

I"ll leave you guys with this tonight since its 11:00 PM. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSHNrQJM_I&mode=related&search=

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-12-14T00:13:45-06:00

ID

109321

Comment

Thank you! With guest Erma Bombeck :)

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-12-14T11:31:33-06:00

ID

109322

Comment

http://www.jibjab.com/jokebox/jokebox/jibjab/id/200728/jokeid/31573

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-12-18T07:37:54-06:00