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Thank you for being a friend
Deb Robinson
Canton Daily Ledger
I was devastated, like the rest of her fans, when I learned Betty White had passed away.
One of my friends said Betty was the kind of person we thought would live forever.
I've been a fan of hers as far back as I can remember.
My Gram and I would watch "Golden Girls" episodes together every week when it aired.
At my age then, a lot of the somewhat racy innuendos flew right over my head.
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When Hannah and Nick were little, I would entice them to watch "the grandma show," as they called it, just to get a brief respite from that big, purple dinosaur.
Early Tuesday morning I had a great opportunity talking to Canton native and actor David Pires.
Generally, I make an outline prior to doing an interview and most last 10 to 15 minutes.
This call was different. He and I were on the phone for over an hour and a half.
He had the pleasure of working with Betty White on a few occasions.
David has had some fascinating roles himself.
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And, it was pretty cool to find out he used to deliver the Ledger back in the day and his father worked as pressman at the Peoria Journal Star.
Personally, one of my favorite roles was when David appeared in a 2020 Super Bowl commercial for Proctor & Gamble.
I think he is incredibly versatile and talented.
I shared with him I had written to Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy on "Golden Girls," and sent her a script I wrote. Being a sophomore in high school I figured it was worth a shot. Naturally, I wrote a role for myself.
She responded with an autographed photo, which I appreciated, however they couldn't use my script because I didn't have an agent.
Imagine my surprise when I saw MY storyline on an episode of the popular show.
Hand to heaven, they used it swapping out the part I wrote for myself with a boy.
In the past when I've told people this, they didn't necessarily believe me.
They act as though they do, but I can practically hear their thoughts, "Oh, that poor, crazy girl! Bless her heart!"
David is the first person who told me he wasn't surprised as it happens a lot.
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I hung on every word David shared, especially when it came to Betty. I was so happy to know she was as nice and caring off screen as she appeared to be on screen.
She loved her fans, perhaps more than we loved her. Betty made a point to respond to every single fan letter she received.
To me, that says a whole lot about her character.
Given she was about to turn 100 Monday, Jan. 17 (she was a Capricorn, as is yours truly), we all knew her time was limited. But, I don't think as fans, we acknowledged it.
I started rewatching the Golden Girls last week and, no matter how many times I've seen each episode, I never tire of it.
They don't make sitcoms like that anymore, which is a shame.
Betty may no longer be with us physically, but her legacy will continue.
An animal activist, she spent a good amount of time advocating for all animals.
With her passing prior to her birthday, social media issued a challenge, (no, do not eat laundry detergent pods), to donate items to a local animal shelter in memory of Betty.
If I had the opportunity to say something to her, I'd simply tell her, "Thank you for being a friend!"
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