It’s Fruitcake Weather! RIP: Marie Rudisill

Click below and pay no attention to the dark-haired yankee. Bless his heart; Jay Leno did NOT understand the greatness that was Marie Rudisill. Notice he calls her the character from "The Christmas Story." She is NOT the Bumpess Dogs you nimrod! She's Marie Rudisill, aunt to Truman Capote and rumored the distant cousin in "A Christmas MEMORY"; she and Truman both also have storied appearances in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."

She entertained us during her last southern decade as "The Fruitcake Lady" on "Late Night with Jay Leno." She also penned two cookbooks, one that is now out of print, and the other, of course, with fruitcake recipes.

Nevertheless, I'm still morning her death, which occured only a month ago. I *get* this lady. No, I'm not giving up youth, but I am putting my give-a-damn to rest on most days. When I re-read "A Christmas Memory" and think of the family dysfunction she likely endured among Capote's description of her as a woman who "never cursed" and could "tame hummingbirds," I know that her blunt tell-it-like-it-is outbursts are the imperitive results of dealing with a family full of possible whackaloons. She'd had it with the bullshit and she wasn't taking it anymore!

God bless you Marie Rudisill. This year I vow to make my first fruitcake. You will be missed, and I vow to approach the holidays with a bit of your candor and fearlessness. Say hi to Truman, Willie and Miss Eudora for us.


Remembering the Fruitcake Lady

 
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