My Mother Was Nuts

At the age of twenty-six, Penny Marshall was a divorced mother of one living in the Bronx. One year later she starred in a Head & Shoulders commercial (she was the one with the dandruff) with Farah Fawcett. So began the unlikely career of one of Holl

Characters

Penny Marshall (9)

At the end of camp, my parents picked me up and we caught up during the long drive back to The Bronx. Everything was the same, my mother said, nothing was new, that is until I asked how my grandfather was doing. 'Oh, he died,' my mother said. 'Excuse me?' I said, shocked. 'He died,' she said. 'When?…

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Death the bronx Secrets summer camps

As a general rule, don’t work with people who are getting divorced. They’re thinking about other things.

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Divorce general rule

I was learning that I didn’t have to have everything figured out. Often the point was to live and see what happened.

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Living Figuring Things Out

Later that evening, Hunter Thompson kicked me. I had no idea who he was. He was in the kitchen, trying to smoke opium. I watched as he sucked the life out of what looked like a Tootsie Roll. It seemed like a lot of effort, almost funny—until he leapt up from the table and kicked me. 'What the fuck i…

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Hunter S. Thompson Gonzo Fear Anger Fuck

The dressy event was a benefit for the Special Olympics, a favorite organization of mine. My first husband worked for the Special Olympics in Albuquerque, and I had once volunteered as a hugger at the finish line during one of his events.

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Special Olympics Albuquerque Special Needs Children Huggers

Try hard, play by the rules, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have fun.

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Try Hard Play By The Rules have fun

One night I'm at a basketball game, the next I'm being held up by armed ninjas. Shit happens.

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Basketball Game armed ninja Shit Happens

Anyway, before leaving, I chatted with the Princess, who was as gorgeous as I remembered her in movies when she was Grace Kelly, the star from Philadelphia. When I asked if she missed acting, she smiled and said, 'What do you think I’m doing now?'

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Grace Kelly Philadelphia Acting

I have never wanted to grow up and stop playing.

— Penny Marshall, amazon.com

Growing Up Playing

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