Sometimes people find writing cathartic--others too painful. But, LW, in just your short letter, so many elements that would make for an important story emerged. You seem to grasp and understand the truth of this in a way that, at least, your relatives do not, and I know that many others do not either. It could be a bit revolutionary for you to tell your story, how all the pieces fell into place. The story of your father, who helped a neighbor learn to read but who was also estranged from one of his sons. Who was this man? I want to know more about him. And how about the girl who is about to be released on parole? What kind of person allows another person to be left for dead? And the ripple effect of crime, with you at the epicenter. I think really great writing, like it has been said about comedy, illuminates deep truths that we, the audience, are either not aware of or afraid to know. Great writers see these truths. You see a lot of truth that others do not. If you can, write about it. I would like to read that story.

I'll be here in Nashville with some friends. Way back in February (during the height of the primaries), a friend and I made a deal that we'd streak if Obama won the presidency. Guess I'll have to hold up my end of the bargain! (maybe. hopefully? knock on wood).

I usually watch these things with my family, but everyone's scattered all over the country this year. In 2004, I preemptively bought a bottle of champagne. It remains unopened in my parents' basement. Hopefully we'll be popping it the next time we get together!!!

Didn't Arlene find a cassette tape, "Cajun accents for actors"? They all must have different ones, like "Antebellum Coastal Carolina accents for actors" and "Deep south Jim Crow-era drawl accents for actors" and "Mush Mouth Scarlett O'Hara accents for actors".

Love the show though! Once I got over the accents (I live in Tennessee, where my born-and-raised husband gets baffled looks for his lack of one), I accepted them as part of the campy scenery. Now, if the actors take voice lessons, I'll be disappointed!

And books, schmooks Lafayette better live!

I read the "article". She name-checks a website that matches wealthy men with their beneficients and gives a rundown on all the great things about it and her subsequent relationship. Sounds like a viral advertising campaign that's a little more sophisticated than your average.

And it hurts, but you live through it. Actually, it hurts not to move, too. Sometimes I feel like I live in a prison of my own creation, because I chose stability for the sake of it. BUT... I think part of the problem of the military brat/nomadic childhood, is that moving really is traumatic, even if it's good, change can still be traumatic, but it's dismissed and delegitimized for the sake of getting along. You have to honor that trauma (I'm not saying that you should be a drama queen and make it your identity) but you have to be aware that it happened and that it's time to move on. By ignoring it and pushing it below the surface, you're only guaranteeing that it will come back up, again and again. Honor it, formalize it, bury it, and move forward, like Cary suggested. Not necessarily back into the arms of your loving, sacrificing boyfriend (who I'm guessing will take you back, and that might be a problem for you), but forward. Wherever that takes you.

There's nothing special about having a natural birth, just as there's nothing special about having a epidural (there is something special about a c-section, but not in a good way). My sister would tell you an epidural feels better than an orgasm in the birthing room. (Full disclosure, I've never been through childbirth myself).

I think all this neo-fetishism of "natural" childbirth is just another barb for mothers to throw at each other on message boards. Seems to be the ones promoting it all come from the same race and tax bracket. Not that there's anything wrong with that; it's just a choice like any other.

Have your baby (safely) however you want, just--to borrow a phrase--keep your hands off of my uterus!

The anti-union sentiment is coming from the politicians. I live in Middle Tennessee, along that I-65 corridor, and it's all about jobs. People I speak to want the bailout so the GM plant in Spring Hill doesn't have to close. Spring Hill was a boom town ten years ago, and a lot of clapboard houses and strip malls would leave it a ghost town. Most people here aren't in a union and don't really think about it much; they want jobs, whether they come from foreign or domestic auto manufacturers. Otherwise, they're opposed to all bailouts without discrimination.