Hearts and Bones

Although it's yet to be confirmed, Time Out New York is reporting that Natasha Richardson is brain dead following a ski accident is Montreal. (The details are bizarre, something about it being a beginner's lesson and her fall was completely normal and that she got up and was talking and seemed fine at the time.) Obviously this is very sad news. She's only 45, a wife and mother, and a gifted actress.

I still remember the first time I heard of her when I went to see "Patty Hearst," the biopic based on heiress-turned-captive-turned-SLA "member." I was obsessed with Patty as a child and thought the idea of a Brit playing her was blasphemous, but Natasha quickly won me over, and I've admired her work ever since, especially in "Widows' Peak." (She and her hubby, Liam Neeson, were sitting next to me at "The Laramie Project" years ago and I found myself paying waaaay more attention to them than the play.)

Apropos of nothing, I was just thinking this morning how odd it was that none of the four children in my family had ever broken a bone, sprain anything or had to go to the hospital for any reason. (Granted, we've had our serves broken more times than we care to remember, but still.) Reading this story about Natasha makes me realize that it's probably not just sheer luck that has spared us any trauma. We all live low-risk lives and while they may not seem that exciting, I guess there is some advantage to keeping both feet on the ground.

I know you're not reading, but my condolences to her whole family. It feels like the Kirsty MacColl accident all over again.