"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY







Happy Birthday to Patrick Sayze

Swayze was married to Lisa Niemi from June 12, 1975, until his death. The couple first met in 1970 when Swayze was 18 years old. Niemi, 14 years old at the time, was taking dance lessons from Swayze's mother. Swayze and Niemi had no children.

As a reaction to his father's death at age 57 from a heart attack in 1982, Swayze began to drink heavily. His sister Vicky committed suicide by overdose in 1994, leading him to seek treatment for alcoholism. After initial recovery, he temporarily withdrew from show business, retreating to his ranches in California and Las Vegas, New Mexico, to breed Arabian horses. His best-known horse was Tammen, a chestnut Arabian stallion. Swayze is a former Scientologist.

Swayze, who was a licensed pilot with an instrument rating, made the news on June 1, 2000, while flying with his dogs in his twin-engine Cessna from Van Nuys, California to Las Vegas. His plane developed a pressurization problem over northern Arizona, causing Swayze to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road in a housing complex in Prescott Valley. The plane's right wing struck a light pole that he hadn't seen from the air, but Swayze was unharmed. He locked up the cockpit, left it parked in the subdivision, and obtained a ride (with his dogs) from a passing vehicle, allegedly in order to telephone the authorities. According to the police report, witnesses said that Swayze appeared to be extremely intoxicated and asked for help to remove evidence (including an open bottle of wine and a 30-pack of beer) from the crash site. He made himself unavailable to police for several hours. It was later determined that the alcohol in question was not in the cabin but stored in external storage compartments inaccessible in flight and that the probable cause of the accident was Swayze's physical impairment due to the cumulative effects of carbon monoxide from engine exhaust by-products, carbon monoxide from heavy tobacco use, and the loss of an undetermined amount of cabin pressurization.

I liked him.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

beautiful.

Nancy's Notes said...

Breathtaking.

Patti said...

I saw Dirty Dancing in the theater about 10 times, including 3 days in a row when it first came out. My friend Suzette, who accompanied me to the movie each time, bought me a life-size poster of Patrick Swayze, but since I was married, I chose not to hang it up.

I also really liked him in North and South.

He died so young....but here's something funny. On the day he died, my friend Suzette called me. We are pretty much only Christmas card friends now, but his death brought me to mind since we had been Dirty Dancing buddies. So, we talked on the phone for over an hour on the day he died.

Beautiful photo you shared today.

Love,
Patti

Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...

wow, the picture is beautiful! I could sit there and reminisce for hours.

I have a gift for you!! I wrote about it on my post today.

Jane said...

OH, my mom was a huge fan of Patrick Swayze. We both loved Dirty Dancing and still watch it whenver it is on!

Jane

amandab said...

What a beautiful picture, just beautiful

Granny Annie said...

I more than "liked" him, I lusted for him:)

Melanie said...

That is a beautiful picture, Sandie.

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

beautiful scene, really awlsome view.
I loved Patrick Swayze, he was the best, we all have short coming in our lives and he was no different. He was an amazing person and one of the few actors I can honestly say I cared for. He and his wife where perfect for each other and devoted till the end.

Chicken Wrangler said...

I liked Patrick too - interesting write up!

Jennifer Oberth said...

That picture is gorgeous.

I didn't know how Patrick Swayze died like that.

House and Garden Boutique said...

I miss him too....what a legend.....

Michelle @ Delicate Construction said...

What a gorgeous picture!!!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Hi, sugar... just checking in from blogger exile to see how you are! Hope all is well in Georgia and that you have some cooler weather.

Patrick Swayze has always been a favorite actor of mine. I adore him. I cannot believe he's gone! I think he was one of the best dancers in the world, too. Loved ALL of his movies.


I suspect I will be on break till sometime after the first of September. Lots going on here. Mr. Magpie = kidney stones. House = things to be done. Etc. I miss you...

XO,

Sheila :-)

My Grama's Soul said...

I liked him too!!!

Xo

JO

Mimi said...

HI MISS SANDIE!!!
how is my chatty friend!!
i have missed your daily comments!!!I knwo I have been so busy and not visited you regularly!!I will try and be better!!That sorority thing was way to overwhelming and I think I am not going to participate after all!!!
HAve a great week
hugs,
jamie

Jacalyn @ rmebathproducts.com said...

Gorgeous pictures! Boy who knew that Swayze had so much pain in his life!

Hugs,
Jacalyn

Dogmom Diva said...

I liked Patrick too..I felt so badly when he passed away so young, and he and his wife had a special love, you could just tell..
thanks for sharing!

Barb

Rose said...

just beautiful pics. you don't have to say any words. the pics talk for themselves. have a good day. rose

Anonymous said...

I came over from Ala Carte and enjoyed reading your blog! Oh, I used to have such a crush on Patrick Swayze!!! Miss him still.

Liz (aka Ninny)