Medford mail tribune., February 14, 1960, Image 36

February 14, 1960
Debbie and her daughter Carrie Frances, 3,
share a cup of milk while a disinterested
Todd Emanuel, 2, takes care of the cookies.
: '
may
life
has
just
As her divorce from Eddie Fisher becomes final this week, this
vivacious actress tells her own story -her interests, her
iii
Debbie was 16 when she won Miss Bur
bank contest which led to the movies.'
For the past few months, columnists and some of
my friends have tried to link me romantically
with a number of eligible and not-so-eligible bache
lors. Whether I go out with Harry Karl, Bob Neal,
or anyone else, there is prompt speculation that
IH soon be headed for the altar.
These people can't see how a young woman can
be happy unless 'she's married. They can't under
stand how she can run her family efficiently by
herself, and they feel that without a man a girl
must be lonely, frustrated, and bored. .
True, without my children I would feel lonely and
unfulfilled. But as for being bored or not know
ing what to do with my spare time, my invariable
answer is: "What spare time?"
Most of my supposedly "free" hours are spent
in behalf of a wonderful and worthwhile charity,
the Thalians, a group of young people connected
with show business and dedicated to helping men
tally and emotionally disturbed children. In the
beginning, it was the difficulties of my marriage
with Eddie Fisher and the urgency to keep busy
at all costs that spurred my enthusiasm for this
organization, but I have tried to sustain it ever since.
Then there's my work, of course. And now, being
both father and mother to my two youngsters is an
extra responsibility which gives an added purpose
to my existence, an additional, wonderful challenge
for the future.
So the way I look at it, life has just begun for
me. If I can remain as happy for the rest of my
days as I am today, I will be the most blessed per
son in the world!
A year has gone by since I got my divorce. But
even today, well-meaning people take it upon them
selves to feel sorry for me. I can tell it in their eyes,
their handshakes, their whole attitude.
I wish people wouldn't feel that way about me.
There's no need for it
Ihave learned that unhappiness can turn you into
a "martyr" and make you and everyone around
you miserable. Or you can profit from unhappiness
and benefit both yourself and those who depend
on you.
In spite of all that's happened recently, I am
grateful for a most rewarding life: I have a prom
ising career ahead of me, I have a number of really
close, dependable friends. Most of all, I have my
children, Carrie Frances, who is three, and Todd
Emanuel, two.
In short, I feel I have a wonderful future. It's
C Family Weekly, February 14, I960