Review

Book Review: Marti Rulli and Dennis Davern’s Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour : Julie Arduini: The Surrendered Scribe

The link above is to a site that includes a review also posted at Amazon, but this review is exactly how I had hoped most readers would come away from Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour, with trust that the intention was to expose the truth of Natalie Wood's mysterious death, and hopefully have the truth believed. 

If Dennis and I were out to exploit the story, there is so much we could have embellished. We could have created words or sentences to the argument Dennis overheard, but we stuck to what Dennis remembered and added nothing more. Dennis's polygraph test, despite those who like to diminish the credibility of the certified test we commissioned, was an effort to prove Dennis's account of Natalie's final weekend.

I thank Julie Arduini for this appreciated review.

Amazon Review: Marilyn Wayne DID call out to Natalie Wood

Below is the latest Amazon 5-star review of GNGS which asks the question: Why didn't Marilyn Wayne call out to the female voice they heard crying for help from drowning? I am sorry if I neglected to include the fact in the book that, yes, Marilyn Wayne and John Payne DID call out to the voice. There was no response.

To confirm this, I questioned Marilyn again and she responded,  YES, she recalls yelling out to the voice.

5.0 out of 5 stars Marilyn Wayne? (alias?) why didn't she, August 7, 2011


By John L. Duda "J. Dudzinski" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

(REAL NAME) This review is from: Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour (Hardcover)

call out to Natalie? Never once in the book does it say that anyone called out to Natalie for help...even if her husband ("Wayne's") discouraged her from going in to help a distressed person in the water. She nor her husband called out to this "person"? I find that extremely odd.

I do, however believe Wagner had something to do with his wife's drowning. From the book...I believe it was a raging fight fueled by Wagner's jealousy and unbelievable rage and total drunkenness. After reading the book, I think he threw her around in a rage, put the jacket on her, tossed her overboard, untied the dingy and said, "here's your help". Natalie had been drinking, and was beaten. She knew nothing of water and did not want anything to do with it. R. J. knew it was the best way to get at her and make her "see sense" in her flirtatiousness that he hated. He was drunk and enraged beyond belief. He wanted to see her suffer for awhile her worst fear. I don't think he wanted to kill her but he wanted to taunt her and hurt her to the utmost. Period.

I was 22 at the time the news came on the television set. I thought, WOW, Natalie, dead. And that's it. She hated water. I knew that from that film she did where, as a child, she almost drowned...and then to die of this? It seemed odd to me that it was ruled a "accidental drowning" and that was it. Nothing much was said after the announcement, and I always wanted more. I loved Natalie. What a beautiful actress. She made me feel all the human feelings that I loved, feared and were angry about in life. I loved her in "This Property is Condemned" with Robert Redford. What a gorgeous beauty. Subtle, sublime and vulnerable yet courageous...loved her. I have that film and cherish it. She's a woman/child in that film...I miss her.

Sociopathy and psychopathy onto Pathological Liars

Sociopathy and psychopathy : The following is taken straight from Wiki.com which gives a brief description of these two mental disorders. A lot of reading about the subject proves that a person can be a combination of both disorders in varying degrees.

Sociopathy and psychopathy share many traits, which is the main source of confusion for differentiating them in psychology. Traits that sociopaths and psychopaths share include:


- a disregard for the rights of others

-  a failure to feel remorse or guilt

- a disregard for laws and social mores

- a tendency to display violent behavior and emotional outbursts

Though not all psychology professionals agree on what exactly differentiates sociopaths from psychopaths, among those who believe each are separate disorders there is a list of definite differences. Sociopaths tend to be nervous and easily agitated. They are likely to be uneducated and live on the fringes of society, unable to hold down a steady job or stay in one place. Some sociopaths form attachments to an individual or group, though they have no regard for society in general. In the eyes of others, sociopaths appear clearly disturbed. Any crimes committed by a sociopath tend to be disorganized and spontaneous.

Psychopaths, on the other hand, often have charming personalities. They are manipulative and easily gain people’s trust. They have learned to mimic emotion and so appear “normal” to other people. Psychopaths are often educated and hold steady jobs. Some are so good at manipulation and mimicry that they can have families and other long-term relationships without those around them ever suspecting their true nature.

Psychopaths, when committing crimes, carefully plan out every detail and often have contingency plans in place. Because of this marked difference between the method of crimes committed by sociopaths and psychopaths, the distinction between these disorders is perhaps even more important to criminology than it is to psychology.

Another belief among some professionals is that the etiology of the disorders is different. According to David Lykken, a behavioral geneticist known for his studies on twins, psychopathy stems from a physiological defect in the brain that results in the underdevelopment of the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and emotions. Sociopathy is more the product of childhood traumas and abuse. According to this model, some professionals believe that sociopaths are capable of empathy, but only in specific contexts.

For example, sociopaths may attach their loyalty to a person or group and will feel empathy for or not hurt those people to which they are attached. Psychopaths, however, have an inability to feel empathy and are just as likely to hurt their family and friends as they are strangers. Other psychologists make these same distinctions, but define them as primary psychopathy and secondary psychopathy.

The following is from answers.com and explains the basic tendencies of a pathological liar. Sometimes one becomes a pathological liar to protect their own guilt of a sinister deed. 

Identifying a Pathological Liar


Pathological liars - or "mythomaniacs" - may be suffering from histrionic personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. The following comments basically reflect a pathological liar who has the characteristics of histrionic personality disorder.

Some characteristics

1. Exaggerates things that are ridiculous.

2. One-upping. Whatever you do, this person can do it better. You will never top them in their own mind, because they have a concerted need to be better than everyone else. This also applies to being right. If you try to confront an individual like this, no matter how lovingly and well-intentioned you might be - this will probably not be effective. It's threatening their fantasy of themselves, so they would rather argue with you and bring out the sharp knives than admit that there's anything wrong with them.

3. They "construct" a reality around themselves. They don't value the truth, especially if they don't see it as hurting anyone. If you call them on a lie and they are backed into a corner, they will act very defensively and say ugly things (most likely but depends on personality), but they may eventually start to act like, "Well, what's the difference? You're making a big deal out of nothing!" (again, to refocus the conversation to your wrongdoing instead of theirs).

4. Because these people don't value honesty, a lot of times they will not value loyalty. So watch what you tell them. They will not only tell others, but they will embellish to make you look worse. Their loyalty is fleeting, and because they are insecure people, they will find solace in confiding to whomever is in their favor at the moment.

5. They may be somewhat of a hypochondriac. This can come in especially useful when caught in a lie, for example, they can claim that they have been sick, or that there's some mysteriously "illness" that has them all stressed out. It's another excuse tool for their behavior.

6. Obviously, they will contradict what they say. This will become very clear over time. They usually aren't smart enough to keep track of so many lies (who would be?).

Another WikiAnswers contributor adds:

- They lie about even the smallest things. For example, saying "I brushed my teeth today," when they didn't.
- They add exaggerations to every sentence.
- They change their story all the time.
- They act very defensively when you question their statements.
- They believe what they say is true, when everyone else knows it isn't.

An alternate 'checklist':
- Lies when it is very easy to tell the truth.
- Lies to get sympathy, to look better, to save their butt, etc.
- Fools people at first but once they get to know him, no one believes anything they ever say.
- May have a personality disorder.
- Extremely manipulative.
- Has been caught in lies repeatedly.
- Never fesses up to the lies.
- Is a legend in their own mind.

The one "special" thing about most people suffering any or all of these tendencies is that it's very unlikely they will ever admit to it. They have rearranged their own minds to support their own illusions of self worth. They can even fool psychiatrists.

Natalie Wood presenting Oscar 1972

This was the year she remarried Wagner. This was three years before Dennis
began his employment as Splendour Captain. This is Natalie, as gorgeous, professional,
and enchanting as a woman can possibly be. She was deliberately left to drown
in the cold ocean the night of Nov. 28, 1981, and received no justice for her
mentally and physically painful ordeal. But this is how her fans remember her, as
the beautiful, kind, loving woman and mesmerizing star that she was.

Natalie's Perch, Natalie Wood's Voice

Natalie Wood sitting in "Natalie's Perch" aboard Splendour. Photo by Dennis Davern

When Dennis Davern worked for the Wagner couple, in an up close and personal position for seven years, it was his relationship with RJ to first warm up, as would be expected. For the first year of Dennis's Splendour job, he might have felt a tad intimidated by Natalie as she wasn't around much and when she was, she treated him like an employee, all while RJ became his fishing buddy. This did not bother Dennis, as he actually respected Natalie's professionalism, and made a conscious effort to never allow delusional thinking of where he stood with the couple, as a whole or individually. He was content with his job, branched out on his own with a side chartering business, and was cordial to Natalie when he saw her, stuck to guy-talk with RJ on fishing excursions, and there seemed contentment all around. Dennis knew his place. He kept it.

Into the second year of Dennis's job, Natalie and the Wagner couple daughters attended boat outings more frequently. Natalie began to notice Dennis differently. She saw he genuinely cared about the Wagner family and her trust in him grew. She had no qualms letting Dennis baby-sit while she and RJ went off to Avalon for dinner. She might check to make sure Dennis changed Courtney's diapers enough while she'd been away, always to learn that Dennis never once disobeyed anything Natalie ever asked of him. Thus, her trust in Dennis continued to grow. Dennis by this time was told he was welcomed at the Wagner home at any time, and what he saw there only enforced his initial opinion about the couple: they seemed happy.

By the fourth year, when the Splendour, yet again, was moved to a different marina, Dennis was forced to choose between continuing his budding charter business at the former marina, or to move on with the Wagner family to Tahiti Marina. Of course, by this time, the Wagners did not want to lose Dennis, but Dennis, although he cared for the entire family, was making more money from his side business than from working for the Wagners. He was living with his fiancé and thinking of starting a family, so he chose to stay and grow his charter business. RJ offered Dennis a hefty pay raise to remain as Splendour's Captain and caretaker, but it was Natalie who offered the ultimate. She said, "Dennis, I know you are engaged, but I also know you're having problems in the relationship, so why don't you stay with us and live aboard the Splendour until you figure out what you want to do?" Dennis accepted, and Splendour became his home.

After year four of Dennis's Splendour tenure, it was his friendship with Natalie that really warmed-up. She felt as if she really knew Dennis by this time, and Dennis became her cruising buddy. Natalie didn't like the ocean, but she liked her yacht, especially because by this time she had turned it into her own cozy little haven. She would do her needlepoint or read scripts while Dennis kept her company in the wheelhouse. When Natalie was sitting in her wheelhouse "perch" her tension faded. "Natalie's perch" was her fort away from it all. But she didn't like to be alone, so Dennis would happily keep her company. They talked about so many things in general, it's difficult for Dennis to pinpoint specific conversations, but there are several that stand out memorably.

Dennis knew Natalie in a personal way, rather than as the iconic Hollywood actress she actually was and remains. In fact, Natalie liked that Dennis didn't treat her as an "unapproachable star" or celebrity, or even as a boss, which technically, she was. Dennis treated Natalie as a caring friend. Yes, they had a few disagreements over the years. Yes, as Dennis now says, Natalie was always right, but he remembers her with such fondness, as well as with genuine grief over how and why she lost her life.

Being the person Natalie turned to for comfort in the midst of all the emotional discomfort of her final cruise aboard Splendour, Dennis remains her true friend, and intends to bring this deserving "perfect person" (as Dennis calls Natalie) her justice.

So, in case any of you are wondering what has happened to Dennis Davern, he's here, and he's about to speak out again, which he will continue to do until he's content Natalie has received the voice she rightfully deserves, the voice that really needs to be heard: Natalie's.
---

Robert Wagner interviewed by Katie Part 1

I've watched this interview before, but I took the time to really listen to it this morning. Katie obviously will support her father, but her interesting innuendoes in this first part of the interview, including "Natalie gave you everything, but took it all away" and about "reading all the other garbage" -- this is how lies become enforced. This is how truth is stomped upon. This is exactly how celebrity has an advantage, and TAKES advantage.

I recently took a little time to work on a manuscript involving a different subject, a fictional depiction of a true crime, yet based on actual research, a crime considered the trial of the century, and in my opinion, the crime of the century, so shortly into this century as well. I'm not sure if anything will ever become of it at this
time, partly due to something I really admire: THE PUBLIC.

The public is joining forces and vowing to boycott anything they consider promotional about the Casey Anthony trial. But sometimes the public forgets that there are things that need to be said, things that need to be told. Otherwise, we are left drowning in the same pool of lies and deception that kills any victim's only hope for justice when the system fails us.

Of course, what I wrote, my proudest chapter of that manuscript, was a testament to our judicial system. What I wrote was nothing to exploit a victim (as was never my intent with Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour), but rather to draw attention to flaws in our system, to professionals who don't get their jobs done properly. There was evidence available in the Anthony trial that was never submitted, possibly due to over-confidence, maybe a tad of pompousness, maybe pure neglect. A little research, a few phone calls can tell a writer a lot. I actually spoke with States witnesses who informed me the prosecution ignored things they pleaded to tell, evidence they tried to submit to prove all the lies told on the stand in that trial. The end result, in my opinion, is that yet ANOTHER killer walks amongst us. Another silent victim receives little justice.

Yes, I admire our system, but I recognize its flaws. There are flaws in most every huge system, but I truly believe that crime victims are often short-changed and ignored, and the results bring national unity such as in the Simpson trial and the Anthony trial.

In Natalie's case, this 30th year of her suspicious death, I am going to do all I can to find answers from the law that failed her. The petition will soon be turned in, and everyone who is still frustrated over the lack of justice in Natalie's case, thank you for having signed the petition, and I will let you know soon if there is more you can do more.

Jackson Browne "For A Dancer" and My Goodbyes to Joe and Geri

For a Dancer
Keep a fire burning in your eyes, Pay attention to the open skies: You never know what will be coming down. I don't remember losing track of you, You were always dancing in and out of view. I must have thought you'd always be around, Always keeping things real by playing the clown. Now you're nowhere to be found.
I don't know what happens when people die; Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try. It's like a song I can hear playing right in my ear: Though I can't sing, I can't help listening.
And I can't help feeling stupid standing 'round, Crying as they ease you down, 'cause i know that you'd rather be here dancing, Dancing all the sorrow away, (Keep right on dancing) No matter what fate chooses to play. There's nothing you can do about it anyway.
Just do the steps that you've been shown By everyone you've ever known Until the dance becomes your very own. No matter how close to yours Another's steps have grown In the end there is one dance you'll do alone.
Keep a fire for the human race. Let your prayers go drifting into space: You never know what will be coming down. Perhaps a better world is drawing near, And just as easily it could all disappear Along with whatever meaning you might have found. Don't let the uncertainty turn you around. (the world keeps turning around and around) Go on and make a joyful sound.
Into a dancer you have grown, From a seed somebody else has thrown. Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own, And somewhere between the time you arrive And the time you go, May lie a reason you were alive, But you'll never know.

This is a very personal post, but made to honor two lives lost in July 2011. The above song lyrics to "For a Dancer" by Jackson Browne, were printed on the funeral card and the song was played at the end of yesterday's funeral for my friend, Geri Alfinito, 47, wife, mother of four. It was by far one of the saddest, yet most poignant moments I have ever experienced, listening to this song for a final goodbye to her. I realize now how Natalie's birth family especially must have felt when "Midnight in Moscow" played on a balalaiku at Natalie's funeral. These type of personalized touches when saying goodbye to a dear one are what makes a world of difference in connecting with the reality of the loss, the reality and essence of the person leaving us.

We make memories with friends and family that follow us through life. I'm so sorry I hadn't seen Geri in several years, but it made it no easier to say goodbye to her. It's the memories that bring the tears, and the tears that bring depth to those who carry on. We all lose dear friends and loved ones along the way, and each loss is a reminder of our own mortality.

July 2011 has been a month I wish I could erase from my personal calendar. The month had started off with a terrible accident Bob experienced -- a puncture wound that almost became fatal due to internal bleeding, but thank goodness he made it to the hospital in time, and I am happy to report he is doing fine, recuperating from a surgical incision. Never underestimate the danger of a puncture wound, no matter how superficial it may appear. Bob's wound was something he was going to ignore. It looked like a tiny scratch on his stomach, but it was so much more. Had I not talked him into going to the hospital for a tetanus shot, he may not have survived.

A week later, my daughter-in-law suffered a terrible tragedy in her family. Her brother, Joe Wells, 30, of Illinois, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. A young woman (who had been drinking) had coaxed her husband into teaching her to shoot his gun. They went to the backyard and she aimed at a tree. The bullet missed the tree but traveled 100 yards through the window of Joe's apartment and hit him in the head and killed him. He was buried on July 15th. Gun control is an issue I firmly stand behind, now more than ever.

Yes, some people become legends and others may be remembered mostly through family and friends, but each life holds purpose and meaning, and each good life holds value. Every good person, like Geri and Joe, affects another, thus contributing decency and value to the entire human race. Yes, we are all our own "dancers" and as we try to right wrongs, or to make our stands and be heard, I think it's important to do our best to base our attempts on honesty, for without honesty, every foundation crumbles.

Joe Wells and Geri Alfinito, may you rest in peace. Like many, you were too young to leave. You are both part of legends of decency and honesty. There does lie a reason you were here. A good reason.

The subtle ways Robert Wagner has tried to re-write history

Robet Wagner admitted he plotted to kill Beatty

Robert Wagner Admits He Plotted To Kill Warren Beatty - Starpulse.com

Oh, he thinks he's good. He thinks he can put stories in books of lies, telling tales about how he waited outside Warren Beatty's house with a gun, when in fact, for the timing of his story, Beatty wasn't even in the country. He subtly lets the public know that he was tormented over an affair he claims Natalie Wood had with Beatty that didn't exist. This is an older article but it was the start of Wagner's little campaign to re-write Hollywood history.

Natalie Wood NEVER had an affair with Beatty. When they worked together on "Splendor in the Grass" Beatty and Natalie were not even chummy. In fact, there were some artistic differences in play. Beatty was engaged to Joan Collins at the time and he and Joan were very much in love. Natalie was in love with her husband, Robert Wagner, and while she was working doubly hard for the two of them because he wasn't bringing in any money at the time, while she worked on two films, she hardly had time for love affairs. It was after Natalie walked in on her husband, who was in a compromising position with another man, that she ran away from the marriage and never told anyone why, but she did write about how devastating an experience it was in regards to what caused the fall of her marriage. The marriage ended because HE cheated!
It wasn't until a year later that Natalie and Warren dated, after both had officially separated from their prior relationships. to make it more clear: Natalie did NOT have an "affair" -- she was OUT of her relationship with Wagner before she started seeing Warren. Therefore it is NOT an affair, it is a NEW RELATIONSHIP. She didn't start seeing Warren until AFTER she and RJ were separated...they separated in June, Natalie and warren began seeing each other in October. Then the couple appeared together at the premier of "Splendor in the Grass" and IF (BIG IF) Wagner ever waited for Beatty with a gun, it was NOT because Natalie had cheated on him.

Wagner's entire gun story is told to create the illusion that Natalie had cheated on him. Feel sorry for the mistreated husband and change the truth in the process... and, also, there's a bonus in it for Wagner. His fans think it's proof that he can become awful mad, mad enough to want to kill, but oh, of course, his better senses always take over, right?

Well, NO. His better senses did NOT take over the night Natalie Wood drowned. He made sure she drowned. He made sure NO ONE would have the opportunity to rescue her before the ocean could take her life. He knew how much time that might take, and he made damn sure to wait long enough to better HIS chances of her not being found alive. He told the Coast Guard Rescuer that he didn't call because he thought she was "off partying on other boats because that's the kind of woman she is." Nice husband.

He uses his subtle little tales all over the place, things such as Natalie drank too much, slipped and hit her head. NONE OF THAT IS TRUE.  Natalie drank socially that evening, as she had many, many social cruises before. She NEVER went out on a wet deck in her nightgown to re-tie a 13-ft. dinghy, tied with TWO LINES 12-ft apart, meaning it could NOT have drifted away with her if that had been her task, which it wasn't. She wasn't out drinking with other boaters in her nightgown, either. That's preposterous, yet it's what he SAID! In fact, she was on the back deck in a heated argument with her husband who was in a jealous, drunken rage, and then within minutes, she was IN the ocean, and left there to drown.

Natalie was an understanding, forgiving woman and believed Wagner was a worth a second chance, thus she remarried him after their first divorce. In her heart, he was the man of her dreams, but she had no idea his possesive nature could or would spiral so outrageously beyond control until the night of Novemebr 27, 1981. Yes, it was on that FRIDAY night of the 27th of that fateful cruise she first feared for her life, and she FLED. She fled with her boat captain to the safety of the Island, and she wanted to get as far away as possible from the man she suddenly realized she SHOULD fear. Sadly, come the next morning, with no flight available, she possibly wondered if she had overreacted. Plus, she had left her co-star to deal with a crazy situation, so she returned to the yacht. Within 24 hours, she would be dead for that decision.

Wagner's little subtle stories to try change the truth, to re-write history, will not work. Many people guarantee it at this point. So, this article link here talks about a man who ADMITS to wanting to kill. Hmmm, wonder if that was his intention with his little Beatty/gun story. Hopefully, he will not "want to kill" again before his time is up.  There will NEVER be enough time between the truth of what happened on the night of November 28, 1981 and his lies to change the minds of the intelligent life on this planet. If there's one drop of decency in this man, he should make his peace with the truth by TELLING THE TRUTH before he leaves this world. But we intelligent people know that will never happen, either. We will be fed lies such as the one in this article.

While Browsing ....

I came across this interesting celebrity website. There ARE people out there caring about Natalie's travesty of justice! This article was obviously taken from this very blog.

Marti Rulli, Author: Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour (Natalie Wood): Natalie Wood's travesty of justice: why Coroner Thomas...

Dennis Davern and Natalie Wood

Dennis Davern and his friend Natalie Wood

I spoke with Dennis today and he is very saddened by the fact Natalie is not here to celebrate what would have been the start of her 73rd year. He said he knows she would have been the most beautiful 73 year old on the planet (but of course he has always, rightfully so, said she is the most beautiful woman EVER). Dennis has been away and very busy but is ready for the next step in bringing Natalie the justice she deserves. I will be posting updates VERY soon. 

Natalie Wood, 73 today, robbed of 30 years



How sad this one-of-a-kind actress, beautiful woman, mother of two, was robbed of the past 30 years to live the special life she had made for herself. How sad that her death was treated as a case of unimportance and closed within days when so much evidence pointed to something sinister, something foul. How sad her  daughters had to grow up without their beloved mother, and how sad for Natalie she was robbed of sharing their lives with them. How sad she is not here for what would have been her 73rd birthday. I have no doubt she most likely wouldn't have looked much different today than she appears in this beautiful photo, had she not been robbed of life. 

Larry David

Natalie Wood in GYPSY

Someone a part of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" HBO series likes Natalie. They always seem to fit in mentioning her. On the latest episode when Larry David is asked what he knows about burlesque by Richard Lewis, Larry answers that he knows a lot, after all, he 'saw Natalie Wood in "Gypsy"' ... it was funny, but more so, a nice little way to keep the name and memory of Natalie Wood alive.

Pets

Natalie was an avid pet lover, cats and dogs always shared her life with her. Of course her dogs loved her in that unconditional way dogs do, and maybe that was something Natalie really appreciated in her hectic life, but Natalie loved her dogs right back. She babied them, she played with them, and she talked about them almost as much as she talked about her own daughters.

I understand how she felt. I had a little Miniature Daschund for 17 years, a female named Fritzy, and Fritzy always kept me company until wee hours in the morning while writing GNGS. She rarely left my side. When I'd turn off the computer and the closing music played, she'd jump up and wag her tail.

It's almost 3 years now, since she's been gone. She died the day GNGS hit the Barnes and Noble bookshelves. When I knew she was close to her time, I wanted her to be comfortable and die at home, but if I saw any pain, then I would take her in to be put to sleep immediately. I witnessed no pain until the morning of Aug 29th. She yelped out, seemingly at invisible things (angels?) coming to get her. I didn't know if she was just scared or if it was a pain yelp, but I woke Bob up and said, "We're taking her right now."

I held her on the way to the vet as Bob drove. She seemed pleased I didn't leave her home alone on this journey that she had no clue of its purpose, because she began wagging her tail as if to say, "thanks for not leaving me." Then she died in my arms. Bob and I pulled over and cried our eyes out. I buried her near where she always used to lay in a spot of sun. I still miss her so much.

Anyone who has ever loved a pet understands, but pets become as equally attached to us as we do to them. I remember asking Dennis a long time ago how Natalie's pets reacted to her absence. He said they had probably gotten used to her absence while she'd been away filming Brainstorm, but that Natalie's daughters had found such comfort in the pets while they grieved. He said one of Natalie's dogs always kept looking up the stairs toward her bedroom. 

Justice

Today is a sad day for American justice, as I'm sure you've all heard the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial. To be honest, I was not surprised, for, as you all know, I've had my experience with the American justice system. Of course, the Natalie Wood case is personal for me, very personal. My friend was a victim of that particular case. But that is not to say that our system, and lack of justice in other various cases, does not also bother me. I am appalled over today's verdict. In this particular case, this brutal death of an innocent toddler, well, it touches all of us.

This case will forever be discussed. There are those who believe justice has been served, and millions of others who are outraged over what they see as a total disregard for true justice. I am one of the latter. But, sadly, this is something I am used to.

We are still seeking justice for Natalie Wood. In some way, I also hope Caylee Anderson will also receive a piece of justice, somehow, someway, someday.

Natalie in summer: Happy 4th to all.

Love Natalie's suit in Photo #1 - epitome of summer beauty!
I will be away until the end of next week and then back with some news in July. I hope you enjoy the long weekend and I wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July. Have summer fun and be safe!

Now that's an expensive dress....

Marilyn Monroe 'subway dress' sells for $4.6 million at auction - latimes.com


Click on above link for article. At a June 18th Hollywood Costume Auction, a dress Natalie Wood wore was also auctioned off. Pictured above is the “subway” dress Marilyn Monroe wore in the 1955 film “The Seven Year Itch” sold for $4.6 million!!

Hours of survival.

This is a beautiful photograph of Natalie, mysterious and poignant, but eerily reminding me of how Coast Guard Captain Roger Smith described her appearance when he took her body ashore. She had remained alive in the ocean for hours upon hours, struggling for life while her husband drank scotch with his skipper, postponing the vital call that had to be made in order for Natalie to be rescued alive. She appeared as beautiful as she is in this photograph when she was found--because she HAD survived throughout the night. 

Blogger problems

I am STILL having problems posting in the comment threads here, but no problem with NEW posts...so here's what I TRIED to post in the the "Sisters" thread and was unable to....

Sylvia ... so glad you found my blog and thank you for the follow back... Twitter has been an incredible source to inform others about the important petition for Natalie's case, and I really believe Twitter has helped to spread the facts about Natalie's "mystery death." Thank you for visiting this blog.

Roz, that's a fact (all you said). RJ had a way of making Natalie feel of "lesser worth" based on her family members, and it was one of the few things he thought he could use against her ... he thought his family had so much more class...but in reality, his talent, his worth, his status was smeared by Natalie's ... she was SO adored, so legendary, and he was Prince Valiant. He knew how much Natalie smeared him. He was an inconsiderate, selfish jerk, and always tried to make her feel as if her family were beneath them as a couple, but in fact, Natalie's family was always in her heart. Her family members were hardly ever aboard Splendour, as if that was too good for them according to RJ... it was HIS boat, HIS retreat, HIS toy. That's what gave him the edge, the nerve, to treat Walken so terribly the weekend Natalie died...they were on HIS territory. I wish Natalie had kept that particular social weekend confined to her home, then Wagner would never have behaved so insanely. Wagner kept Natalie's family off that boat, that was ALL his doing. Natalie LOVED her family, and yes, her sister meant the world to her, no matter how many latter day fans want to think differently.

Natalie Wood, despite all of Finstad's dark, deep stories about the psychological aspects of the Gurdin family dynamics, LOVED AND ENJOYED HER BIRTH FAMILY. It was RJ who didn't love them, who was jealous of them, who was jealous of everything about Natalie.

Julie,
I'm glad you like Lana. She deserves to be liked and I truly believe that those who have a problem with Lana are only looking for excuses to support their fanhood of Wagner. Most intelligent people can see the raw deal Lana has been dealt by RJ, just as you have.

Kristin,
Lana was the ONLY person Natalie wanted to reach that morning. It was a desperate time she NEEDED her family, but it was a holiday weekend and Lana was unavailable. Of course, Lana would never have dreamed in a gazillion years that not being around the morning of Nov. 28th would have/could have contributed to her sister's survival chances. I truly believe RJ had set his mind on Friday night of the fateful cruise, what he wanted to prove to Natalie.

With that said, thank you to each and every one of you who still cares about this terrible injustice Natalie and her legacy has endured for almost 30 years. Again, I promise, I'm working toward Natalie's true justice.

Trouble with blog

I have been trying to add a few comments but am having trouble doing so all night tonight. I will wait and see if Blogger fixes itself tomorrow.

Sisters

Natalie and Lana Wood

They were sisters and they shared a sisterly bond. Thirty years later, Lana still remembers that bond. She cared about her sister when Natalie was alive and she cares about Natalie's legacy to this day. Natalie shared more with Lana than she did with any other person she ever knew in her entire lifetime. Lots of people may say the sister relationship was strained, but that is not a fact. The details about Natalie making calls from the Pavilion Lodge the morning of her death, well Dennis Davern was with Natalie and there was only one person she felt she could turn to, and that person was Lana. She called Lana first. Lana will always wonder the details Natalie may have told her had she been available and there to lend her shoulder to her sister. That was not to be, as late that same night, Natalie was in the ocean, floating away from her yacht to her death. Almost thirty years later, the only type of person who could blame a sister for wanting closure in such a guarded case, is a person who doesn't know how to, or refuses to, accept what is real.