“Gentle
as the sweet magnolia, strong as steel, her faith and pride …”
~
“Eagle When She Flies”
~ 1991
~
Grammy award-winner for best country song by Dolly Parton, one of the stars of
the 1989 film “Steel Magnolias”
~
“Steel Magnolias” is the film adaption of Robert Harling’s 1987 play of the
same name. The play and film are about the bond a group of women share in a
small-town Southern community, and how they cope with the death of one of their
own.
The
story is based on Harling’s real life experience of the death of his sister,
Susan Harling Robinson, in 1985 due to complications from Type 1 diabetes. He
changed his sister’s name in the story from Susan to Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie,
portrayed by Julia Roberts in the film.
The
title suggests the main female characters can be both as delicate as the
magnolia flower, and tough as steel.
A
sweet and beautiful pink magnolia tree beckons you to come sit a spell on a gorgeous
early May afternoon at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
