...is oftentimes reading Cary, even when the header has no direct relation. I subscribed to salon 2 years ago because I loved Cary's style. He writes directly to the heart, my guess because he lives close to the heart. Maybe some people find that a thing to ridicule...they are easy to scroll past, those venomous comments. Lately I've been believing that there are so many of us on this planet there is little left that is unique & what is special is derived largely from our own approach. We can choose. I get a much needed boost reading this column & the following comments. When the politics of the day are weighing down the hinges & it's all tedium & blitz...here is Since You Asked...even when you didn't, even when you wouldn't.

So, Cary. You are essential. You are fine.

Thanks extra much for your writing today.

dear Joe, dear Walter, dear Joan...I have respected you all so much at times...what is this persistence, this effort to convince me that John Edwards is just this dream I've been having?

Maybe Glenn will explain it to me...

(the name is a coincidence)

baffled nonetheless

I am a democratic American. Don't torture me for it.

I was still laughing over the chopstick bra when I decided to sober myself by yet more bad news about my party and I'm still laughing--soberly?---Glenn, you nabbed the perfect analogy of the week. Thanks for the comic relief, better than alka-seltzer.

we have been disrobed.

a morose teenager. I remember genuinely worrying that we would not have a future, even though the leadership seemed sound enough, if very mysterious, the newscasters were solemnly respectable & daddy came home from work every day. And here I am. My grimness effected no change on this earth, I suspect my disposition mattered very little except in my personal environment.

I love Garrison's column. I really really appreciate his attempt at optimism. Hygienist Haiku---where else we gonna get that?

I suspect the 9 year old daughter has much more to do with this cheeriness than the coming end of the Bush-aster. There is plenty cause to question this survival he speaks of, more tests to come, more incompetence to darken our days.

Today I am willing to be cheerful with Mr Keillor. I intend no disrespect---to anyone.

...isn't much different whatever your age. It hurts like a hurricane at 22 & it's not so different at 48. We've all been there, sweet girl. But you will not heal yourself by extending goodwill to him. Opt for dignity & get on with your own living. If there's something to keep from this relationship it's not going to be apparent without some perspective gained by distance anyhow. And time.

Laugh as often as possible. Smile at strangers. Love your young self. My last lurching loss was just a few months ago & one sad sad Saturday, when my head was full of missing the beat of partnership, I was reading Salon & read a comment that made me laugh so hard..I clicked on read other letters by...I spent that whole afternoon reading & laughing. By the time I was done I liked this wise & soulful guy I'll never know in person a whole lot more than the guy who just left. Distraction is your friend. Cary's advice is shorter. Listen to him. Love is a good ride sometimes. It ends. Go again.

I agree that B & C need to be sickened with the repeated asking of the same questions and then they should be asked some more. Journalists really shouldn't leave the hard questions to nervous little girls. And it's not even such a difficult question, is it? Too bad these thugs don't get a limit on their claims to executive privilege. Oops, sorry sir, it's all used up. Now swallow this truth serum.

Also, Ondelette, you should get the biggest reddest star.

You're brilliant even when channeling the assassin of accountability. wow.

"What a wonderful life I have lived. If only I had realized it sooner."

I copied this and put it on the fridge as my daily reminder to be appreciative today for today. At the age of 48, with arthritis in knees & lower back, it's mostly a gladness spinning around pain. Could just be the pills causing the spin-sensation though. Still, one doesn't have to look far to see someone in worse shape. I am totally sympathetic to Gary's observations & I enjoyed both the article & the letters. Guess the generation gap is alive & well. Some of these 60 & 70 somethings posting here...good on you for also being alive & well. Nicotine, alcohol & southern fried food have taken care of those in my family who would be your age now. I think they lived without the reflection of their selves in life & just got up every day. I like to think they did have their days where they said, damn it's good to be alive---seems to me I remember sharing some of them.

I just came back here after lunch & saw the trollish response to your very lovely story.

I was in tears this morning thinking of the life and passing of this intelligent,gentle, & supremely funny spirit who was Kurt Vonnegut.

Your story was undeserving of criticism, was in fact an homage, in the vein of Andrew's article, as was the later story shared by Nancy Ott. I appreciated all of these shared memories & I thank you for sharing. These are reasons I have been always a fan of the letters in Salon. I admire some of the commenters as much or more than the original articles.

Too bad Salon can't devise a little troll icon to sit by the name of any poster guilty of submitting their unnecessarily ugly muck--like premium members have the gold star.