r.i.p. cyd charisse

cyd charisse passed away this morning; she was 86.

brigadoon. the bandwagon. the long, sultry dance sequence in singin' in the rain. ziegfeld follies. these were among the best musicals produced by MGM during the hey-day of big musical extravaganzas on the big screen.

she was a dark-haired dancer with an exotic beauty and amazing long legs. she moved with seductive grace in films that showcased her dancing talents, holding her own with the likes of gene kelly and fred astaire.

an amazing, talented woman. and did i mention she had amazing legs?

i went through a stage where i was in love with MGM musicals. for me, that was entertainment!

cyd charisse made three-lettered first names cool. she epitomized sleek grace and an untouchable etherealness. i had a funky three-lettered first name, too, but i wanted her name -- as if by having her name, all her fantastic qualities could be imbued into me.

but i can only keep dreaming.

in the meantime, there will ever be only one cyd.