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So. Moment of silence for Bea Arthur. If you didn’t see the brilliant piece CBS Sunday Morning did, you must take a few minutes to watch. Like most of my generation, most of my impressions of Bea came from her hit series The Golden Girls. Her character Dorothy was all about the snarky one-liners, and you know how I love those. What is fainter but no less meaningful in my memory is Bea Arthur as Maude. First of all, how incredible is the theme song? Maude, as you may or may not know, was originally just the liberal, snarky (See? Career theme!) foil to Archie Bunker. But the network powers that be saw the force that was Bea Arthur and said, “Hey, write that woman a show!” And a fierce theme song. Check out the lyrics in case they weren’t all clear.

Lady Godiva was a freedom rider,
she didn’t care if the whole world looked.
Joan of Arc, with the Lord to guide her,
she was a sister who really cooked.
Isadora was a first bra burner
Ain’t ya glad she showed up?
And when the country was falling apart
Betsy Ross got it all sewed up
And then there’s Maude
And then there’s Maude
And then there’s Maude
And then there’s Maude
And then there’s Maude
And then there’s Maude
And then there’s that old compromisin,’ enterprisin’ anything but tranqulizin’

Right on, Maude!

P.S. “Right on” is a phrase I try very hard to bring back on a consistent basis. I digress. The point of my Maude ramble? One simple reply when asked if she thought about retiring. “Actors don’t retire…people who hate their jobs retire.” If that doesn’t scream do what you love, I simply don’t know what does. Who else but Bea Arthur could play Vera Charles in Mame, Maude AND Dorothy Zbornak in one lifetime? I’m just saying. Do what you love.

Spirited snarky woman, anyone?