My whole life has been decided by fate. I think something more powerful than we are decides our fates for us. I know one thing – I`ve never planned anything that ever happened to me.

Not to be creepy, but I’m thinking about Sharon Tate.

It happened yesterday when I started writing about my absolute favorite blonde women in the world, which started with the 70’s and Farrah Fawcett (big shock), stayed with the 70’s (another shocker) and rightly ended up in the 70’s (yup), in L.A. on Cielo Drive.

Sharon Tate was mostly known for her role in Valley Of The Dolls and her marriage to French-Polish director Roman Polanski. She was seriously and stunningly gorgeous. I have a little bit of a preoccupation with her, who she was and what she may have been like. Every single word I’ve ever read about her is in praise of her beauty.

Sharon Tate was an open, honest and straightforward person.  One of the most beautiful people I have ever met in my life, in all ways. I can’t emphasize how beautiful she was – inside and out. Sharon was well educated and impressed people with her honesty. She had the greatest attributes a person can have. Sharon never changed from the time she arrived in Hollywood until the day she left us.”

– Hal Gefsky, Sharon’s agent

How many women can you say that about? I’ve lived in L.A. my entire life, except for a brief period when I spontaneously moved to San Francisco in the early 90’s and spent a year and a half in the city of sickeningly pleasant people. My point is, the chicks here are super catty. I’m pretty sure it was the same way in the 60’s. I can only imagine how cool this woman must have been to have so many people in Hollywood adore her.

She had blonde hair and brown eyes, a combination I love. She drove a red Ferrari. “Malibu Barbie” was created after her character in the film Don’t Make Waves (1967).  She wore a mini dress and flowers in her hair at her 1968 London wedding. Their reception was at The Playboy Club. You want a glimpse into the 60’s? Watch.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tilZdR0Ym_0]

Joan Didion famously wrote that the Manson murders in August of 1969 put an abrupt end to  the 60’s. It was the end of an era of innocence and optimism. Thanks, stupid hippies, for taking things too far and spoiling the whole thing. Good job. Take some more LSD.

Sharon Tate’s death was shocking, to say the least, especially in Hollywood. The police even suspected her husband may have murdered everyone in some kind of jealous rage. They were both rumored to be seeing other people. Laurence Harvey said “This could destroy Roman. Marriage vows mean nothing to him but few men have adored a woman as much as he adored Sharon.” I don’t know what kind of man has lovers aside from his wife who’s 8 1/2 months pregnant, but I’m quite sure that guy is European. Or has spent too long in L.A.

In truth, I love Roman Polanski films. Rosemary’s Baby – deliciously scary. Bitter Moon – a random, great movie. The Pianist – Adrian Brody is genius. Polanski himself has had an interesting, but heartbreaking life: He survived The Holocaust, his wife and their friends got slaughtered by a bunch of maniacs, then he allegedly raped a 13 year old and fled the U.S. for Switzerland in 1978. And now he’s a hot shit oscar winning director. But I don’t blame the guy for being a little jumpy:

Whenever I get happy, I always have a terrible feeling.

Me, I’m an unpaid writer. I’m guessing you weren’t living on the streets during World War II, and your spouse probably hasn’t gotten stabbed to death like 50 times. Yeah, me either. So what the hell are we doing? I’ve had it good, and you have too. Be good to others. Don’t be an asshole. Smile.

I think you have to get a little vulnerable to be strong and go for what you want in life and be successful. My boyfriend always says I look more beautiful first thing in the morning, no make-up or anything. I don’t know, I could never walk around all day like that. I’m just gonna watch Valley Of The Dolls. ♥

Sharon is too nice. She doesn’t believe in her beauty. Once when I was very poor in Poland, I had got some beautiful shoes, and I immediately became ashamed of them. All my friends had plain, ordinary shoes, and I was embarrassed to walk in front of them. That’s how Sharon feels about her beauty. She’s as embarrassed by it.

~ Roman Polanski