Maya Angelou's Legacy

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive;and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style”Maya Angelou

Have you ever played the game where everyone has to name a person, living or dead, with whom they would wish to eat dinner?

I've fielded this question often enough that I have my "go to" names and they are almost always chefs (Julia Child, Morimoto - we would eat their food during dinner of course) or writers (Annie Dillard, Peggy Noonan, Jane Austen).

However, near the top of my dinner list was Maya Angelou, not just because of her dexterity of her words or the richness of her voice (Oh I wish I had that voice!), but because of the depth of her spirit.

I find her story and life utterly fascinating.

Did you know she didn't speak for 5 years after enduring sexual abuse? (From age 6-13)  Or that she had a writing ritual where she would check into a hotel room in the morning (with a bottle of sherry, playing cards, and a Bible) and write in long-hand on a yellow pad of paper? Did you know that she played Bess in Porgy & Bess and had a successful singing career?

The internet is crawling with Maya stories and videos from her assorted interviews, but the one below is one of my favorites because not only does she tell a great story, interspersed with her contagious laugh, but she also sings.

Enjoy yet another bit of Ms. Angelou's considerable legacy!

Writer & Director Cole Haan, 2013 Executive Producer — Emily Stuart-Pontier, Greencard Producer — Melody Roscher Director of Photography — Matthew J. Santo, ICM Casting — Nina Day Wardrobe — Tiina Laakkonen, Streeters Hair — Didier Malige, Art Partner Makeup — Tatyana Makarova, The Wall Group Production Designer — Gerard Santos, Streeters Editor — Mike Sobo Editor — Morgan Faust Post Producer — Adam Lytle Colorist — Tim Masick, Company 3 Colorist — Stuart Wheeler, Smoke & Mirrors Mixer — Jonathan Schenke

Passion, compassion, humor, style - check, check, check, and check.

If Maya's mission in life was to thrive, she hit her goal indeed.