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A few years ago I shared this story for a now defunct blog challenge called What Pegman Saw. It seems the appropriate time to share it again (in a shorter form 😉 ) RIP Mr. Poitier, you were a trailblazer, a great actor and an elegant human being.
Genre: Biographical Fiction
Word Count: 100
THE VIRTUES OF SIMPLICITY
“Tell me a story, Great-Grandpa.”
“Shall I tell you the story of Cinderella.”
“Tell me about when you were a boy in the Bahamas.”
He gathered the child onto his lap. “We were poor. Didn’t have a telephone or electricity. But we had the bluest skies at our temples and the ocean at our feet.”
“What did you do for fun?”
“Climbed trees and went swimming almost every day. Why I didn’t even see a movie until I was twelve.”
“And now you’re a movie star like Denzel Washington.”
Sidney Poitier kissed his great-granddaughter. “Nah, I’m just an ordinary guy.”
***
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
This was a lovely snippet of life and it’s inter reactions
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Thank you, Michael. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Perhaps being just an ordinary guy is the greatest aspiration a celebrity can have
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Dear Neil,
I think when a celebrity starts believing their own press, they lose themselves. It doesn’t seem that Mr. Poitier ever did. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story. Every move star is just an ordinary guy. I have and still enjoy Sidney Poitier in the films.
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Dear James,
Too bad every movies star doesn’t remember it. 😉 I’m currently rewatching Lilies of the Field on Amazon. Good stuff. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Memories & our past will always remain despite our extraordinary achievements.
How life has changed! Kids use mobile phone these days for “fun”…
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Dear Anita,
And haven’t we all seen many changes in our lifetimes? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And what a man he was. 😀
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Yes, he was, Tanille. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Beautifully done. He was a great man of humble beginnings. You really must read his book “Measure of a Man”. While he said “you can never go back”, he never forgot where he came from.
That broad narrating could learn to say his name right! She made it sound like Portier instead of Poitier! 😉 Nitpicking, I know…
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Sigh. His name has been mispronounced every which way. I sympathize. Wisoff, you know. 😉 On one show the other night the narrator kept pronouncing his name POtiay. Nitpickers of the world unite.
At any rate he has always fascinated me. You’re right. I do need to read “Measure of a Man.”
Shalom and lotsa hugs,
Rochelle
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Yes, I know you do. How hard is is to say PWAtiay? I think I prefer POtiay to this PORtiay ;-).
He was such a gentleman, I felt. And yes. I really loved it.
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A good rule of thumb for name pronunciation is to ask the bearer. 😉 Glad you loved my story…a second time.
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😀
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Very much one of the greats, and yet humble. Great little story.
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Dear Trent,
He seemed to be the embodiment of a gentleman. Not to mention he stood up for what he believed. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I absolutely love this. I can almost hear his voice speaking the words. Well done.💖
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Dear Andrea,
Your comments make me smile. 😀 He was an amazing human being and a man to be admired. Thank you for taking the time to read and leaving a comment here.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved it. He was such a gentleman, and a gentle man.
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Dear Sandra,
He definitely was a gentleman. He was always one of my favorite actors. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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To be famous to your greatgrandchildren? Now that’s truly leaving a legacy of fame! Nicely written, Rochelle.
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Dear Penny,
He certainly did leave a magnificent legacy. And from such humble and impossible beginnings. Thank you for your kind words re my writing.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a lovely story of a great man. He was a man of humility, grace and strength. My favorite movie with him was Lilies in the Field for which he rightly deserved the Oscar. He’s no longer with us but he will not be forgotten. May he rest in peace.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
He was amazing. The fact that he came from a background of poverty, barely being able to read when he came from Nassau adds to my amazement. He deserved all of the accolades he received IMHO. Thank you re my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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He was one of my pin-ups in years gone by. RIP Sidney Poitier.
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Good choice of pin-up, LIz.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story about a wonderful “ordinary guy.” Poitier went were few dared to tread. His roles in movies were groundbreaking again and again.
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Dear Lisa,
I’m pretty sure I heard him say that in an interview once. Can’t remember when or where. At any rate, he was quite a person. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are most welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Good story of a simple man making it to the top.
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Dear Jan,
He proved that it could be done, didn’t he? Thanks, m’luv.
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I think I’ve only seen two of his movies, “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” and “In The Heat Of The Night.” He had such a powerful presence that, while details of the movies fade in my memory, his presence has stayed with me.
Even if it wasn’t originally intended as such, you’ve created a fitting dedication.
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Dear Nobbin,
If you could only see two of his movies, those are good ones. I’ve watched “To Sir with Love” many times and recently watched “Lilies of the Field.” He did have a powerful presence indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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One of my favorite actors from back in the day. He was so intense in every role. “They call me Mr Tibbs!” I think you did him justice here.
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Dear Eric,
He had a presence like no other. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An ordinary guy with Extraordinary Talents! A wonderful actor. I don’t think I’ll ever forget his role as Mr. Tibbs. Great story this week! I do miss What Pegman Saw, too.
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Dear Bear,
I so loved him in To Sir with Love. I saw In the Heat of the Night, but I don’t think I ever saw They Call me Mr. Tibbs. Might have to search that one out. He always played characters of integrity. We’ve lost a great one. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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He always came across as a true gentleman and will be sadly missed by friends, fans and family alike.
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Dear Di,
He did come across as a true gentleman. Hence he didn’t make the tabloids much, did he?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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If only today’s so-called celebrities were as humble and grounded as he. A lovely piece, Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
Ever notice that you rarely, if ever, read about him in the tabloids? I’d say there’s a reason for that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Delightful tribute! What a loss. And I absolutely agree with Keith about celebrities and also our leaders today.
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Dear Lisa,
The great ones are leaving us, aren’t they? Betty White, Sidney Poitier and the list will no doubt go on. 😦 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An exquisite recollection of an extraordinarily beautiful man.
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Others have said it better, including yourself Rochelle, but he always struck me as a man of integrity and elegance, something sadly lacking in a lot of actors and celebrities today. A true hero.
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Hey there, Rochelle,
A wonderful and pleasantly warm story. A fine tribute to the man and to his life. 🙂
Peace,
Bill
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he was one the greats that passed recently that included betty white, colin powell, and john madden. may they all rest in peace.
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Dear Plaridel,
He was indeed one of the greats, as were the ones you listed. 😦
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It seems he was ever a very humble man.
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Dear Ali,
Humble with integrity. This is probably why you never saw him in the tabloids.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A beautiful story. He truly was one of the greats and I can’t begin to imagine which obstacles were thrown in his way.
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Dear Gabi,
Obstacles indeed. His story is inspiring, if not amazing. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Humble to the core, the current ‘celebrities’ can’t hold a candle to him. A true great! A fittimg tribute!
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Dear Neel,
I agree. There was only one Sidney Poitier. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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he was a wonderful actor, nice story.
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Thank you, Arora.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A beautiful tribute, as always. Thank you!
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Always my pleasure to share. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂 Happy TuBishvat!
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A lovely tribute. He was an inspiring man, and I like how you show his humility and ordinariness.
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Dear Margaret,
That humility is what made him such a great man. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh
Beautiful
Such a sad loss
What a man.
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Thank you, Laurie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember ‘What Pegman Saw’ 🙂
Lovely story.
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Thank you, Bernadette.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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If only all the people young kids look up to could be so humble….
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True story, Stine. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A heartwarming exchange!
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Thank you, Mags. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sidney Poitier was a gift to the world of entertainment.
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He definitely was, Linda.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a contrast to some of our haughty, arrogant, ill-mannered film stars. Lovely story, Rochelle. Shalom.
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Dear Indira,
Isn’t it funny how the great stars are rarely in the tabloids? He was one of the great ones. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure, dear.
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