Once a Pink Lady, Always a Pink Lady
Olivia Newton-John and the pink ribbon in the room
My mom loves the musical Grease. She loves Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. It was one of the first movies she saw when she came to the United States as a new bride. I think my aunt took her to see it, and my mom fell in love with the singing and dancing.
About 13 years ago, my husband and I sent my parents for a weekend in New York City so they could see the musical for their anniversary. My dad bought my mom a Rydell High t-shirt as a souvenir and she wore around the house until it finally fell apart after so many years. So when I think of Olivia Newton-John, I think of that.
But it’s not all I think of when I think of the blond sprite who played sweet Sandy. So I’ve been avoiding how she passed and instead focusing on the memories people shared. I’ve been avoiding the giant pink ribbon in the room as I scrolled through social media and noticed how people shared about her on-screen persona, the first time they saw Grease, her music videos, her smile, her voice.
I thought of the breast cancer that took her. And morbidly I thought “Once a Pink Lady, Always a Pink Lady.”
As friends and family warmly remembered a beautiful woman who played as a background to their memories, I thought of the…
