I just started reading the book What Would Audrey Do?: Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace and Style by Pamela Keogh. My younger sister Jen introduced Audrey to me many years ago. She was four years younger than me, and once, when she was in college, we were having a disagreement, and she said, “You need to watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Then maybe you’ll understand me better.”
I didn’t watch the movie until after she died. In 2002, my sister Jennifer Servo was murdered, and her murder remains unsolved to this day, although recently, there has been some progress toward, what may finally be, a resolution.
Losing my sister so suddenly when she was only 22 years old caused me to become obsessed with everything that she was interested in. I wanted to know her better. I wanted to capture everything I had missed out on and hold onto it. There wouldn’t be new memories, and I didn’t want to lose anything that I knew about who she was.
She loved shopping, even though she was just starting her career as a journalist and had no money. I started shopping more. She once said daisies were her favorite flower. I started buying everything I found with a daisy on it. She loved Audrey Hepburn, and the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s defined her. I finally watched the movie like she told me to, and I’ve watched it dozens of times since. Moon River, the song composed by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, was performed by Audrey Hepburn in her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This song played at my sister’s memorial service, and every time I hear any version of it (which is surprisingly often and in unexpected places), I feel that she is there with me.
My sister’s love of Audrey transferred to me, and my love of everything my sister loved has now been passed down to my daughter. When my daughter was a junior in high school in 2019, she, my husband (her stepdad), and I took a spring break trip to New York. The Blue Box Café at Tiffany’s in New York had opened not long before our trip in 2017. It was nearly impossible to secure a reservation at the time, but I was determined, and I managed to do it months ahead of time. We got to actually have breakfast at Tiffany’s! Only our reservation was the last time slot available and was in the evening, so it was more like dinner. It was so magical to have that experience. First, we went shopping at Tiffany’s. We had saved up, so my daughter and I could both pick out something small. She found a silver ring with leaves on it, and I found a pair of silver earrings. We also picked up a couple of Tiffany coffee mugs to bring back to Montana, one for us, and one for my mother-in-law because it was almost her birthday. We proudly carried our little blue bags with us up to the restaurant at our reservation time. It was one meal I will never forget. We even ordered the little cake decorated like a Tiffany box for the end of our meal. We were the last ones there at the end of the evening. It was just us, and my sister, of course. Our waitress took a picture of us alone in the restaurant before we left. I just know that Jen was there with us. I could feel it.
Over the years, I’ve done a little research on Audrey Hepburn beyond her role as miss Holly Golightly. I am a teacher, and one year I chose to do my sample research paper on Audrey. She really was so much more than just the celebrity and fashionista people knew. Her charity work with UNICEF involving advocating for children’s rights was a great passion of hers. Just like all people, there is so much more than meets the eye.
I’m so grateful that my sister taught me about Audrey Hepburn. Audrey said, “I believe, every day, you should have one exquisite moment.” I believe she was right. It’s all about finding the beautiful things in every single day. They’re always there if we look for them.
