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TROY’S BIRTHDAY

Today is my son, Troy’s, birthday and we celebrated by going to my stepmom, Shirlee’s, home—Bridget Fonda came as did my friend, Richard Perry. This is the home in which Shirlee lived with my father since the mid 1960s. This is a home full of memories. When I left my first husband, I came back to this house with my 2 year old daughter, Vanessa, to live in the servants quarters and that’s where I was for almost a year. That’s where I lived while I was morphing into an activist. It was from here that I ventured out on my various treks across the country in the early 1970s to have my mind blown by the tumult on campuses and military bases. I was arrested four times for passing out copies of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to soldiers on military bases and spoke before crowds of 10s of 1000s from Denver to D.C. I would come back to the home of my father to lick my wounds and regroup.

Sitting peacefully on the patio yesterday overlooking the pool where my children played as youngsters with my now-grown son and his wife and my father’s loving widow and her new partner, filled me with happiness. There was a lot of reminiscing and laughter.

I walked too much when I visited Bridget’s home in Santa Barbara over the 4th weekend and I have been paying for it ever since. Will I ever learn not to overdo? I have 2 hours of therapy and rehab every day for the next week and hopefully that will help.

Here are some random answers to blog questioners: The John Gardner quote came from a commencement speech he made a long time ago but I don’t have the date or place. I have long collected quotes that touch me but am not always diligent about citing the time and place.

To Hilary Basing with the right knee problem: If you have persistent pain in your right knee I would see a sports medcine doctor and probably get an x-ray to see the condition of your cartilage. When you say you take Glucosamine I hope that in with Contortion. THORNE company makes the best combo product which you can get at Whole foods or online. You should stop all movements that have impact. Standing lunges work. Low impact aerobics work. There’s a lot you can do aerobically without impacting your knee.

That’s all for now. See you next time.

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66 Comments

  1. Dear Jane,
    Please take care and mostly when you think you are getting better(you might be) but that is when you should still rest even more. We all need to learn to rest more it is better for us.
    Peace and Blessings
    Daniel.

  2. Jane, take care of your knee I know I don’t speak for myself when I say I want to you to recuperate more sooner than later so you can get back to doing your “thing”…which is basically mesmerizing us with your immense talent! 🙂

    PS Just watched WALK ON THE WILD SIDE today…. 🙂

  3. Happy Birthday to Troy! Looked him up on IMBD.com, a very handsome looking man. Hope you will feel better soon. I’ll always think of you as one classy lady. All I can think of is “Live Long and Prosper.” Corny, huh 🙂

  4. Once you’re older than 9 men (or broads) you must continue to overdo it simply to stay where you are.
    You’re far too much of a babe to succumb to traditional, “old guy” thinking.

  5. Dear Jane,
    I recently joined twitter. I have to comment on your hair how wonderful it always looks. Your cut and color are outstanding. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
    God Bless,
    Judy Magy
    Saint Paul, Minnesota

  6. I told you Jane, you will regret it if you can’t tame your active lifestyle during this very important recovery phase. I have two knees and one still bothers me because i just couldn’t rest. Make sure you wear a support stocking. Don’t stand when you can sit, don’t sit when you can lay. keep it up as much as possible to decrease swelling which delays healing. good luck, love your blogs Dr. Loren

  7. Dear Jane,
    what a fabulous woman you are. I always old my breath when the L’Oreal commercial comes on. Amazing. A new mother of a 2-yr-old at 44, I am now concerned that on graduation day everyone will say “Oh, look at Rafi (my son, Rafael) – he came with his grandma”….you raise the bar, M’am! Anyway – here is a great site to check on those John Gardener quotes and all things John Gardener in general: http://www.pbs.org/johngardner/sections/writings.html – love and awe from Spain, Susanne

  8. Richard Perry-got it…

  9. Dear Jane Fonda get well soon!
    Happy Birthday for your son!
    I´m from Germany.
    Sorry for my bad english!!
    I love your Movies!! All!!
    Love and Peace!

  10. A happy birthday too Troy, I was thinking about Bridget Fonda and you . Was it Bridget Fonda who played in the film Julia , playing a young Julia (uncredited)? I hope to see her return to the spotlight , a so wonderful actress, but Iam sure being a new mom is a important life change her. Keep well Jand and don’t take any wooden hedge funds.

  11. Good to hear you are still close to Shirlee, from all that I have read about her over the years, she seems like a good egg. I go back to old homes in my dreams, so I guess that makes us feel comfortable and happy, going to back to places where we felt safe and loved.

    Don’t overdo it!

  12. I’m new to your blog and I have to say I really enjoy your candidness. I also recently watched the episode of My Life on the D-List in which Kathy Griffin and Lily Tomlin called you. I laughed at your reaction – you really laid it on the line!

    Today is my sister’s birthday as well, so happy birthday to Troy!

  13. Hi Jane,

    I am happy to hear you are doing so well. My mom is having her knee replacement surgery on the 13th in Dakota Dunes, Iowa. Do you have any suggestions for her?

    Amy Brody

  14. Please wish Troy the happiest birthday from the Averitts – you sound so happy and content – that’s so good – keep up the rehab ( I know you will)
    Lots of love

  15. It’s in your nature, Jane. So if you demand more than it should be. And you’re not going to change at this point! Some time ago I ask is that you speak Spanish. From Uruguay with love

  16. Hi Jane
    What wonderful memories you must have,especially of your contributions as a true American.And you have much more to teach.
    It would be good if Bridget Fonda returned to making movies.

  17. I wish I could have been politically active in the ’70s (I wasn’t even a thought yet) because I’m immensely fascinated by American culture during that time. There was such a sense of purpose, people seemed to gather together more often to publicly speak out about the political injustices, and were really quite devoted (you are a perfect example of this, Jane) to their beliefs and getting their voices heard. Of course it was also an incredibly frightening time, but that’s what life is like when a war is going on.

    I hope you didn’t aggravate your knee too much. I’m sure physical therapy will help correct all that extra movement you had from the holiday weekend.

    Happy Birthday to Troy! We have his newest film in our store right now: Lake City.

    All my best,
    Amanda

  18. A very happy birthday to your son, may he see many more, before his time is out the door… Hope you and your friends, family are doing great. I myself am having some down time, seeing that it is the time it gets really hoot here.
    Sincerely Chris Hayward, life long fan..

  19. Happy Birthday to your son!
    …Now, work on that knee.

  20. Hi, from Spain! My father’s knee surgery (a year ago) was almost the same you’ve had; now he has a fantastic titanium knee. He is really happy he did it, even if he hasn’t recovered the complete angle of his leg, but he’s aware he’s almost 69, of course. Anyway, he says the best therapy is a walk, without exceeding. By the way, he had a heart stroke two years ago (that same 14th of July when I was in Dublin watching Barbra Streisand live, unforgettable in every way, oy veh!), so, the important thing is, not the knee’s angle, but, like the song, BEING ALIVE!

    On the other hand, I love your reflections, your look at the past, and also to the future. And this all told in a very simple way, peacefully and so straight to your followers… I love it! Kisses!

  21. I laughed when you asked if you would “learn” to stop overdoing…Jane-that is your essence-it’s who you are. My husband has a motto that I made into a plaque: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing”. That’s who he is-we’ve quit fighting it-and just laugh. Heal well.

  22. Dear. Mrs. Fonda:
    Im writing from Puerto Rico, Im 22 and I just wanted to thank you for your craft, for allways being classy and for crossing over (since the a very early point in your profesional career) into the REAL world and caring about REAL issues.

  23. For a very long time you’ve been an inspirational figure to me. I was your adoring fan during the time that you liveid in the house that you write about. That period in history comes back often. It shaped us in so many ways. I hope you feel better. The friend that I mentioned to you who had two knees replaced (very successfully) tells me that one must keep up with appropriate physical therapy. She’s had a few ups and downs and is now on personal training and gym program (right up your alley) that has restored her. It gets better. Myself and your other adoring fans are rooting for you.

  24. Happy Birthday to Troy! I do love hearing about your early days as an acitivist–it sort of puts me into perspective about my own activism…. Thanks for the wisdom! Do take care of yourself!

  25. I knew your son, Troy from the movie “soldier´s girl”, a very strong and remarcable movie!
    He´s great, and very very handsome *g*
    my best wishes for you

  26. Hey, haven’t been reading the blog in the last few weeks… busy with summer stuff, kids and travel. You sound wonderful and I’m so happy to hear your knee surgery went well. Wonderful news about falling in love… isn’t it magical?

  27. Jane, thank you for the intimate lens into your life during that time. You were my tutorial on social awareness, hero and role model, all in one, then. Later, when you formed your film companies, I was a monk, serving as Dir. of the S.F. Integral Yoga Institute. I’d give a class in Sw. Satchidananda’s translation of the Bhagavad Gita, and then have everyone run out to see you in “Coming Home” and “China Syndrome”.

    Nirmala

  28. My last entry I was writing on the run.. and on a venti coffee. And I think came off sounding shallow. I meant to include that, to me, the scriptures on the page are theoretical and dead. For me, they only come alive, and become real when they’re lived out and demonstrated in life. From my pov, in “Coming Home” and “China Syndrome”not only were your characters, like Arjuna, slaying the demons of hatred and unconsciousness. But those films brilliantly held up a mirror to what you, as a person and personna, have so courageously portrayed on the world stage through all of your political and creative work, in spite of the slings and arrows. In fact all of the films you made have accomplished that. I passionately wanted my students to see the teaching in action.

    In love and peace
    Nirmala

  29. Troy was in a movie I really enjoyed: Milwaukee, Minnesota. Great indie film. Happy Belated Birthday, Troy!

  30. Dearest Jane,
    I’ve always admired you. I just discovered your “blog”. Thank you so much for sharing yourself! And for being soooo honest, as always. I’ll say a Rosary for you daily, well actually only Mon. – Fridays on my way to work (when is when I say my “daily” rosaries. Well anyway it’s the thought that counts. Looking forward to enjoying your “blog”
    Love and Kisses.
    Susan, from Vegas
    spejcoch@stviator.org

  31. It’s nice that you can visit the home where your dad lived… especially on your son’s birthday! I know it must bring back lots of wonderful memories and feelings from the past just to be there. Recovering from knee surgery takes time. It’s so easy to overdo it some days! You’ll get better about judging when you need to sit or prop up your leg! Hope you continue to enjoy your time in California! It’s always fun to read your blog and everyone’s comments!:) Take care of yourself!

  32. Jane,

    Sounds like Troy’s birthday was all that family gives. I love how you treasure your family,and friends.
    Hope you’ve recovered from the overdoing, that PT goes extra smoothly this week. Soon you’ll be dancing.
    May everything you need to be done fall into place.

  33. Happy birthday Troy! I remember seeing you in Santa Barbara on “Earth-day,” I think, when you were about three years old. You were pretty adorable. Your Mom made a speech and chastized us students for not doing enough for the Ecology Movement. Well, she was right. She’s good that way. I loved “Soldiers Girl” and look forward to seeing you in “Kerosene Cowboys” and “My One and Only.”

  34. Are you allowed to swim? I broke my foot a couple of months ago and I have found swimming to be a fantastic exercise. It allows broad range of motion with resistance (water) but without weight bearing. I have also found that the foot doesn’t swell after swimming unlike after any other exercise I have tried including walking. Finally, it is a good exercise to maintain your aerobic conditioning while you can’t do your favorite one (elliptical in my case). Best of luck with your knee!

  35. Jane, In followup to what I said earlier, about the Scriptures on the page, I want to amend my comment somewhat. They are actually anything but theoretical and dead. They resonate with energy, love and light. But clearly, the great prophets and sages who gave them to us meant them to be more than the awe inspiring and sublime prose their written in. Even if to suddenly catalyze a small subtle change in mental attitude. Or stop an argument. Or a bad habit. Not everyone has a pivotal role in the panorama of social/political change, like you. Or can singlehandedly, turn a war around and save a country. But I still believe you have and continue to serve as an extraordinary paragon of what the teachings of the Gita can inspire. And as a perfect metaphore for Arjuna.

    With love and Peace
    Nirmala

  36. Hi Jane, Just read some of your advice for us oldies, “Go slowly” in one of our aussie “ladies” mags. As a 66 yo male I will take that advice on board from such a young looking chick !!
    Cheers and kind wishes, rodway Wolfe.

  37. I like quotes too. My favorite is from MLK, circa 1967 – “I’d rather go through life with a scarred up body, than a scarred up soul.” Love it.

    Gail

  38. Reminiscing can be so soothing for the soul and often laced with humor. I very much appreciated what you shared on this blog. I’m glad you had safe place to regroup and the courage to let your voice be heard. Your strength and determination have been a source of inspiration for me on more than one occasion.

    Wishing your son ‘Troy’ a super birthday!

  39. as i was reading this, it brought me back to my family home and what comfort i found. it also reminded how it felt to have family around no matter what the circumstances were. i miss that. times seem to have changed and people are more insular.

  40. Wikianswers.com says Richard Perry (record producer) and Jane Fonda are seeing one another.

  41. darling Jane,
    Time to update!!
    Obsessed w/ u!!!!
    Joe

  42. Just watched you in that movie w/Jennifer Lopez. Man, you had me laughing so hard. Take care of yourself. Thanks for all your inspiration, laughter, and dedication to excellence in all you do.

    btw, your father was one of my favorite actors of all time.

    peace, Rick

  43. Don’t you love it when nostalgia comes around? There was a recent death in my family and the wake and funeral were in a city that I had many happy childhood memories and I recognized places and streets that I surprised my mother how much I remembered where everything was and what it looked like. Like the Barbra Streisand song, memories lit the corners of my mind. Recalling those misty watercolor memories made me feel better about how much I’ve grown and what I learned from these places.

  44. Jane, I’m degressing somewhat from the context of your post. But my dear friend, actor Lindsay Crouse’s mother, Anna Crouse, is in the ICU on the east coast with complications from a protracted heart condition. She’s hanging on by a thread but seems to still have an indominable will to stay. She’s in her early 90’s. Who knows these things, but maybe she’s holding on for Lindsay and Tim. Lindsay is sustaining a strong front and says she’s prepared for the passing. But, we’re very close, and in my conversation with her today, my sense is that the loss will be immense for her. Her mom has been her touchstone throughout her adult life, and some recent circumstances. I want to ask your thoughts and prayers for both her mom and her.

    With love and peace,
    Nirmala

  45. Hello Jane, What an amazingly talented family you’ve got and have come from. I can sense how proud you must be about your handsome son and his success. I see he has the facial features of his uncle and great looks of his father and yourself. Jane, you have inspired many actors such as myself. And such memories you must have! You were so misunderstood as an activist in those days then and those must have been extremely hard and brave times for you to have gone through. I hope we see you on the screen for many years to come. Health Peace and Happiness and Much Love always to you.
    Cher A

  46. Jane, just wanted to say that I follow your blogs.. I have commented before.. I have been a fan since your days of Filmmaking with Vadim.. I was 10 yrs. old when I first discovered you. I am 54 now.. I am an actress, and as an actress, you have been a major inspiration.. I have ALWAYS admired and respected your political activism throughout the 70’s. Your courage was daunting. How many in the public eye have DARED to do what you’ve done. And your continued activism is an inspiration and role model to many.. I saw 33 Variations in previews. I continue to follow your blogs and am behind and with you in every way.. I look forward to your book (have read, and many times refer back to ‘My Life so Far’) and am eagerly awaiting your second.. You are a treasure. Always wishing you the best and always learn from everything you say, write and do.

  47. I miss your updated blogs. Hope you are well.

  48. Jane, In light of the new love in your life, the emanations its causing, in closing, I have felt compelled to send you this wedding song I wrote some time ago for a dear friend. Not to presume on anything, but you seem so blissful, I’m inspired to share it with you as a token of my best wishes.

    Now that this moment has blest us. Now that our lives are entwined. No matter what rains come to test us. Our love will go on for all time.

    Now that the words have been spoken. Now that our hearts are like one. What heaven has brought, can’t be broken.
    You can’t tear the moon from the sun.
    No you can’t tear the moon from the sun.

    Our lives have been blest by the mountain. And all the rivers below. Our love will flow on like a fountain. As time melts away like the snow.

    Now that this moment has found us. Now that our dream has come true. Embracing the world all around us. And giving my whole life to you.

    Our lives have been blest by the mountain. And all the rivers below. Our love will flow on like a fountain.
    As time melts away like the snow.
    As time melts away like the snow.

    With love and peace.
    Nirmala

  49. Hello Jane,
    Its so lovely to come close to you in this way. I have recently joined your Fan club 🙂

  50. I’ve been a fan of yours since the very first time I heard a derogatory remark about your views on the Vietnam War. I tend to seek out the other side and I agree with you and thank you for speaking up about that and so many other topics.
    My favorite movies lately with you in them are Monster-in-law and Georgia’s Rule.

    You look fantastic and I hope to see you in many more movies to come. Thanks for being the voice so many of us lack. We’re behind you supporting you as you speak out.

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