More thoughts on Clarence Swenson

This wonderful poem I found online in Clarence Swenson's Online Guestbook provided by the Funeral Home http://www.legacy.com/Statesman/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=124663747 and I thought it was so wonderfully written and really summed up Clarence's life with us his fans and especially his wife that he adored. Clarence, I hope you are one of the very first people I see after crossing the gates of heaven.

To my dearest family, some things

I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know,

that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven.

Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness;

here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just

because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you

every morning, noon and night.

That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."

It's good to have you back again; you were

missed while you were gone.

As for your dearest family,

they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.

God gave me a list of things,

that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list,

was to watch and care for you.

And when you lie in bed at night,

the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.


But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)

Sad Day in Oz

It's a very sad day in Oz today. Our dear loving (August)Clarence Swenson died last night around 7;00 p.m. I am told by the "Everything Oz" Yahoo Group and to make matters worse it was also his wife's birthday the same day.

Clarence was the very last of the Munchkin soldiers from the 1939 MGM production of "The Wizard Of Oz" starring Judy Garland among others.

Born August 29, 1917 in Austin, Texas he was the smallest of five brothers and one sister. Four-feet-six inch Clarence nicknamed "Shorty" began his career in show business when he appeared at the Dallas Texas Centennial of 1936.

In 1937 he supposed to be in Stanley R. Graham's All Midget Circus in San Antonio working with the elephants, as well as playing the saxophone and drums with the band. After nearly eight weeks of rehearsals they opened for a day and a half before they were shut done because of the monsoon rains.

Not long after that, he hopped a train to Hollywood to appear in "Terror of Tiny Town"; and a few months later landed the role of a Munchkin Soldier in the Wizard of Oz. Directly following that he worked in an ape costume in "Tarzan Finds a Son". During this time Clarence was around four feet tall.

When World War 2 broke out he went to Kelly Field Air Force Base in San Antonio where he worked for four years as a radio technician. Clarence married his sweetheart, Myrna Myrle Clifton in 1945. Myrna is most unusual as she is the offspring of midget parents. The two do have children, grand children and great-grandchildren.

It was not until 1989 that Clarence made the step to reunite with fellow munchkin cast members at Oz festivals. Many people have such fond and warm loving memories of the man who was the last of the Munchkin soldiers.

Sadly by the time I learned of these events Clarence was way to ill to travel but I am sure he along with all the other munchkins who have passed away. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and may we all strive to leave a legacy as LARGE as Clarence did.

My apologies

My apologies to those that follow and read this blog but this Fibromyalgia thing has really gotten the better of me and so much of my time is just feeling tired to do anything except sleep. I plan on getting back to blogging more as what little Oz things i do keep me going and let me have something to look forward to. I aks that as always you keep me in your prayers.

The Gluten free diet is going better than I thought it would but with no medication available for me to take it makes things at times very rough. Personally in a way I am grateful there is no new medication to take as there are so many I am on now.

Been some time

I know it has been quiet a while since I posted here but things have been utterly chaotic. First of course is my constant battle with this god damn fibromyalgia. Sorry but that is how I feel about it right now, it just takes every last ounce of everything out of me and LEAVES nothing else. Then last week Jim had his large calcium deposit that was in his bladder blasted and what was supposed to be " a nothing procedure" turned into this week long nightmare--including a hospital stay, 2 trips to the emergency room and just sheer agony for Jim.

Of course the hospital thing is never easy and after 2 --13 hours days there in a row and 2 5 hour stays in the emergency room I am really doing good to know my own name. The doctor that did this procedure is in my opinion one of the very worst there is and his bed side manner/how he has treated Jim has just been simply awful. Jim would have gotten better care from a vet in all honesty.

There are new Oz and Judy items to post and many of them I have to take pictures of to be able to post here. it has been the only thing in all honesty that has kept me going. E-bay this last go around has been a royal pain in my ass. With stupid questions, bitchy customers and not nearly what the items are worth. At this point I am not sure if I am going to continue doing E-bay or not.

The other big news in my life is 3 days ago now we have gone Gluten Free in an attempt to get me feeling better. So far so good. I do apologize for not being better about the posting but I ma hoping that changes and soon and will be sharing some of my new Oz and Judy stuff again.

Meeting a LEGEND!

Well gang if you were not in the Canton area this weekend you missed out on of the best things to hit this area in a long time. Legendary Icon and Female Illusionist extraordinaire Jim Bailey.

Jim not only visually impersonates Judy but he VOCALLY impersonates Judy whit a live orchestra

Jim Bailey was here for a one night only concert at the Historic Canton Palace Theatre for a night of Judy Garland wonderment. Proceeds were to benefit the Tri-County AIDS Taskforce.


There was an add a few months back in the Cleveland Gay People's Chronicle confirming Jim's coming to do the concert which believe it or not I knew as I HAD my tickets in hand already. But what made the add and this whole experience even more wonderful was it had listed the event organizer's name and phone number in the add.


So I called wanting the possibility to meet Jim Bailey first hand prior to the concert. We talked briefly, telling him who I was and that I was looking for a chance to meet Jim Bailey. Well the organizer, Bill Weaver--this wonderful business and gay man invited myself and Jim to his home for the pre-concert gala the the night before which would have been Friday of this last week.


Well we arrived at what turn out to be this incredible Victorian Home fully and accurately restored with about 150 people there. I can not begin to describe how wonderful the home was which also is a bed and breakfast.


Anyhow, when we walked up and were introduced to Jim Bailey, he was the sweetest, kindest, funniest men I have met in a while and so charming and down to earth. Mingling with the guests and Jim's manager Bill Campbell off and on all night--- left my head spinning. As we were getting ready to leave Bill Weaver said we will see you tomorrow night and let me know where your seats are. And said nothing else.


Well the night of the concert we were a little early and mingling with the crowd and Bill Weaver's staff and what not they open the door to the theatre--Bill turns to me and says "Let's see those tickets of yours". He takes one look at them ---because we bought them direct from the box office-- and said "Oh these will never do" took my tickets and left. We sat for a while he came back handed me tickets and said this are much better I hope you enjoy them, there right next to me.


Well the usher lead us down the aisle--closer and closer and closer and I almost fainted as we were standing at the FIRST ROW she said your seat 7 and 8 which is DEAD CENTER STAGE! I couldn't believe it! Well THREE hours of concert had come to a close and they had this raffle thing they did as well that night and I won one of Jim Bailey's CD's.


Bill Weaver was seen talking with "Judy" on stage off mike and he comes back to his seat as Judy sang four more songs. Bill turned to me at the end and said Jim has agreed to sign your CD if you wait for him to take off his makeup. I couldn't believe it, again crying my eyes out.

So Pam Pack-Pappas (from the Everything Oz Group" I belong to was there night night as well and I had my Jim run and get her to take her with us to meet Jim Bailey--her first time my second!! Sit in their in a bathrobe, and turban he was so sweet and kind and signed autographs and hugged us all . We--being Pam and I left crying even more and I left more in Love with Judy Garland than ever before and now a devoted and LOVING fan of Jim Bailey's as well.

Mr. Bailey--You Made me Love you!