A couple of things before we welcome Mr. Hudson. First, remember how not long ago Erik warned us we needed to have the supplies and plans necessary for urban camping, at least for a duration of a week or two. Lately, we’ve been seeing instances all over the country where I hope his advice was heeded. In California, the high winds from several days ago still have people in the dark. Before that, the unseasonable nor’easter paralyzed the northeast United States for weeks. It seems these mini-disasters are becoming more and more frequent.
Second, we interviewed Natalie Wood Friday and the details surrounding her death are startling. In fact, Robert tells me that Natalie came through around a half a year ago while he was on the telephone with blog member, Steve. When she spoke to Robert, she confirmed all those details to him and he relayed those to me Friday before I had a chance to share what came through with Jamie and Erik. Also, Ms. Wood told Robert that her case would soon be reopened. I mean, this was 6-8 months ago!
So here’s my dilemma. Do I divulge this publicly? Natalie wants me to, but I’m afraid. I know it’s true, too. First of all, it feels true. Second of all, the two accounts are identical and in great detail. Any advice?
Okay, you’re ready for your close-up Mr. Hudson:
Me: Okay, who do you want to bring forward today, my sweeties?
Jamie: There’s a Mr. Rock Hudson here. Erik already went and got him. Is he on your list?
Me: Yep, he is. Talk about taking initiative, Erik! Hey Mr. Hudson.
Rock: Good morning!
Me: Good morning to you! Let’s just jump right into the first question. Is that okay?
Rock: Absolutely.
Me: What beliefs did you have about death and the afterlife and did they change after you crossed over?
Rock: Yes, they did change. When I was growing up, there was a lot of emphasis on faith—faith that we would be taken care of, faith that we would have food, money to pay our bills.
(Pause)
Jamie: Oh, he’s talking about living in poverty when he was younger.
Me: Oh, really? Hm. I had no idea!
Rock: Yes, so it was important to show gratitude. But I really don’t recall my family telling me exactly what to believe in. Of course there was Jesus and God, and it was very powerful and present at every dinner, especially around food and the things in our life that supported us for being who we were.
Me: Oh, that’s lovely. So how did those beliefs changed after you died?
Jamie: He has such a smooth, nice voice. I’ll have to watch some of his movies to see if it sounds like this.
Rock: There was much more acceptance of my beliefs, because what we had, I think, really spoke in general terms for that day and age, you know, around the Great Depression.
Jamie: Great Depression? That was in the twenties!
Me: Yeah, that’s probably around the time when he was little.
Jamie: Wow, I didn’t think he was that old. Sorry!
She giggles in embarrassment.
Me: Oopsie!
Jamie: Yeah, ‘Whoops!’
Rock: It was a day in a life, I really think, cut out of that religious belief. And when I passed away—you know I lived a very intriguing life—
Me: Um hm!
Rock: —and most of the life I led was very public.
Me: Yeah.
Rock: But on the flip side, the rest of my life had to be extremely private.
Me: Yes.
Rock: There was just so much misunderstanding and judgment of who I was. And in any faith or belief, I could find no solitude for who I was.
Me (with sympathy): Yeah.
(Pause)
Jamie: I asked him to clarify what he meant by who he was. He’s talking about his sexual preference.
Me: Yes. Rock, you were one of the first people in that industry to “come out” as a gay man, and I think that was very heroic of you. Personally speaking, I think that was one of the first movements toward compassion and understanding for gays. We still have a long way to go, but you opened a door for the others. I really believe that.
Rock: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Me: Do you suppose that was why you were here or at least one of the reasons?
Rock: Yes, that was my biggest driving force. I feel, looking back at my life, that I knew I was in the public eye, not just for the entertainment business, but as a teacher as well.
Me: All right. And what, specifically, do you think you were here to teach?
Rock: To not judge others. I came to teach the world to not judge other people.
Me: Were you here to learn anything, too?
Jamie (laughing): He kind of drops his arms and straightens his shoulders and says:
Rock: Yes ma’am, I was here to teach myself how to be honest. You know, I’ve given many speeches and I’ve played a lot of roles, but the hardest role to play was myself. That’s true for most of us.
Me: Oh, wow, that sends goosebumps.
Rock: It’s not prewritten like a script; there are no marks on the floor telling you where to go and where to stop and where to begin. And this is what I had to do for myself: to be myself and to speak up for who I was.
Me: Good. And you did. You did.
Rock: It caused me ulcers, a lot of stress in my body hiding who I was.
Me: Yeah, I can imagine!
YouTube of Rock Hudson outakes (bloopers)
