Remember Them

What people remember most about the occupants of Cielo Drive on August 9th 1969 is their brutal end, and their status as victims.  But a life shouldn't be remembered only by its end.  Sharon Tate was an up and coming actress who was legitimately considered one of the nicest people you would ever meet. Jay Sebring revolutionized men's hair care and achieved fame of his own - he guest starred on Batman as a character modeled after himself 'Jay Oceanbring.' Abagail Folger, despite being the heiress to the coffee fortune, was a social worker in the slums of Los Angeles. Wojciech Frykowski survived the occupation of WWII Poland, and the subsequent communist takeover, and helped kickstart the career of Roman Polanski by financing one of his first films. Steven Parent had dreams of college and had overcome legal problems in his youth. Like every victim, they were so much more than a statistic, so much more than a body on the ground.  They deserved better.  They didn't have the chance to live on; let's make sure at least  their memory does. RIP. 

A Timeline to Tragedy - pt 2

At this moment 50 years ago (1145pm PT) 18 year old Steven Parent entered the Cielo Dr property after getting off work at his 2nd job.  Some weeks earlier he'd given a ride to the property caretaker, and while he wasn't expected this night, Steven took the opportunity to stop by and say hello to him. He and the caretaker enjoyed a beer, and Steven, an electronics fan, unsuccessfully tried to sell the caretaker a Sony Digimatic alarm clock. 

As the calendar flipped to August 9th on Cielo Drive, Frykowski was asleep on the living room couch; Folger was reading in bed and had booked a 10am flight to visit her mother; 8 month pregnant Tate and celebrity hairdresser Sebring sat talking on her bed. And outside the main gate, Manson disciple Tex Watson was about to climb a telephone pole and cut the wires to the house. . .

At 1215am PT, Steven Parent used the caretaker's phone to call a friend and tell him he'd be stopping by shortly. He said goodbye and started his car. As he drove toward the main gate he was stopped and approached by Watson. Four shots followed, ending the young man's life. Although neighbor's later claimed to have heard the shots (and went back to bed) they apparently went unnoticed by the residents of the property. Moving past the body in the car, the four killers approached the house. .

At around 1220am PT 50 years ago Watson cut a window screen and entered the home, then unlocked the front door to admit Atkins and Krenwinkel, leaving Linda Kasabian outside as a lookout. Watson woke Fykowski with a kick to the head and announced that he was the devil, there "to do the devil's business.' The two women went down the hall to collect the others; Folger initially waved to one of the killers, believing her to be just another guest of Sharon's. The killer cheerfully waved back.

At about this time 50 years ago (1230AM PT) the four friends were forced into the living room. A rope was tied around both Sebring and Tate's necks and tossed over a rafter. Sebring objected to the treatment of the pregnant Tate; for his efforts Watson calmly shot him, leaving him to bleed out on the rug....

With Sebring dying chaos erupted. Realizing this was no mere robbery Frykowski escaped his bonds and grappled with Atkins. Despite stabbing him repeatedly in the legs she was losing and appealed to Watson for help. Eventually Wojciech would make it as far as the lawn before succumbing; it took multiple gunshots, 13 verifiable blows to the head, and 51 stab wounds to kill the Pole. The head injuries came from the pistol Watson carried, whose grip broke during the struggle, leaving behind a vital piece of evidence.

Meanwhile Folger attacked Krinwinkel and despite a stab wound escaped out the pool door in Sharon's room. She was overtaken on the lawn and stabbed to death as she pled for them to stop, saying she was "already dead.". In the morning the police would initially think her white nightgown was red, given the amount of blood it bore.

Tate died last, unable to flee because of the rope and the pregnancy. She begged to be kept a hostage long enough to have her baby; instead she died brutally near Sebring, calling out for her mother. Susan Atkins dipped a towel in her blood and wrote PIG on the door, then casually tossed the towel back into the living room. It landed on Sebrings face, erroneously creating a rumor the victims were hooded. By 1245, if not sooner, it was done.

A Timeline to Tragedy

50 yrs ago, at roughly this moment, Jay Sebring, Sharon Tate, Abagail Folger, and Wojciech Frykowski arrived for an 8pm (PT) reservation at the El Coyote Cafe. It was a busy Friday night, and the quartet waited in the bar 15 minutes before being seated in their booth. It was to be their final meal.

The 4 friends finished their meal and departed for Tate's home at 10050 Ceilio Dr.  Although they didn't realize it, Charlie Manson had visited the address on March 23rd, looking for the previous tenant, and had seen Tate. By the time the group finished dining on Aug 8th, Manson had ordered the occupants of the home executed.

A Barbie Post

drove around with my dad and my doll lisa - Junie

50 Years Ago Today - Abbey Road

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to the newest - and best - 12 year old in the world! We love you more than lips can tell. Sto lot!

Dan 💕 our kids are blessed to have u. - Lisa

MOR Bakery

LuLu invited me to dine at her workplace Friday, and I proudly accepted.  I felt very loved in that moment - and the soup was pretty good too!

Heiress, '69

This was an unusual short film.  Two students arrive at a philosophy class to discuss fate vs individual choice. Their instructor?  Abagail Folger, a victim who died at the hands of the Manson Family fifty years prior. Together they discuss her life and murder, and the role her own choices played in putting her in Sharon Tate's home.  Aside from the horrible acting of the female student, it was well done and impactful, and a nice tribute to an often overlooked victim. Available on Amazon Prime.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

I went and saw this movie alone tonight, and I adored it. I heard complaints on the way out that it was too slow and lacked action; at nearly 3 hours it certainly is long, but I don't know how you can complain about the chance to spend 3 hours immersed in 1969 LA. Even though it isn't strictly about the Tate murders it helps to know the chronology of the crime, because Tarantino really went out of his way to set the stage. You'll also find yourself getting to know Sharon Tate as something more than just a murder victim - and brother, if you don't cheer the ending you're a cold hearted b$$tard. Well done.

Smiley is Back at Camp

Smiley was dropped off at camp today

Helter Skelter

I originally read this in high school and picked it up again this week.  A great book.

Lamont McLoughlin

I doubt anyone outside of SE Wisconsin recognizes the name or the face, but if you ever watched the Channel 10 Great TV Auction (an annual televised benefit for the local PBS station) then you'll remember him, and his voice. 

He will be missed. 

RIP

GusGus got out again!

This guy, GusGus, apparently got out again. Ever since he was found earlier this month he's cried at the door at night, probably because a female outdoor cat has his attention. GusGus, whatever he thinks, is not an outdoor cat. Please help us find him again.

He is neutered and micro chipped and was wearing a collar when last seen.

Edit: at around 1245am today (the 30th) GusGus was retrieved - hours after blanketing the block with flyers . I'm not going to delete this bc he's acting very odd and I fear he'll bolt again. Any tips for removing his taste for the fugitive life?

Meanie

Dad and I went to the phone store yesterday- when we were done, my dad said, “I might come back tomorrow.”

The store worker said, enthusiastically, “Please don’t!”

-Yaya

The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff

A compelling history of the Salem Witch Trials by a Pulitzer winning author. She concludes by going too easy on the accusers - they were liars with an agenda, not victims of Freudian hysteria, thank you - but overall the book is a worthy addition to your bookshelf.

A$AP Rocky is being assisted by the President

Me and YaYa

Junie passed the island swim test!

FiNALLY one of girls passed the island swim test at camp! (All 3 were perfectly capable of doing it.) Congrats!

The Moon Landing

Happy 50th, Apollo 11 Moon Landing.

Midsommar

Went on a double date with Yaya  and Justin Kla mik tonight. Dan picked the movie. Midsommar. That’s two and a half hours of my life I’ll never get back. - Lisa

Milverine!

Free

I have two queen headboards that I need to get rid of. One leather in multiple pieces and one upholstery in one piece. If u know anyone who could use either lemme know. - Lisa

An Update from Poland

The past few days have been fun. Saw the Black Madonna, ate a lot of good food..... that’s about it! The temperature is a lot like Milwaukee, got some days and cold others - YaYa

Auschwitz

Today I was able to experience visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau. 

 It was a memorable and moving experience- although I’ve seen numerous movies, seen photos, and read books about the Holocaust, seeing the camps really was completely different. There is nothing like seeing Auschwitz. There is nothing like seeing Birkenau. Nothing taught in World History class could have moved me like this. 

The massive size of Birkenau alone shows the complete disregard that the Nazis had for human lives. The “bathrooms”, the bunks, the washrooms- they all made sure that the people in the camps were stripped of all of their dignity. They were not treated like human beings, rather like cattle. Visiting Auschwitz, I could horrifically see how downright effective the camps were made to be. It’s terrible how they were made to be that way.

The lack of respect shown by other visitors shows me that we still need to be educated on the events that happened there. There was scratched graffiti on the walls, people bringing young and loud children, and people eating sandwiches on the tour. Straight up blatant disrespect. We need to be educated and respectful on the events of the Holocaust, it is our history. 

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

- YaYa