It is a lovely idea to watch others and imagine oneself in their positions ahead of major life changes. Watch others' marriages; family lives; work strategies; hell, watch their bowling techniques if that is what you aspire to do. But it is all just information, isn't it? It is how they do it, and it is interesting to notice how many ways it can be done.

Probably the least of all the things to worry about in preparing for a major life role such a "parent" is how you will talk about yourself in the future. You would like to stay home with your children for 5-10 years and find other things to do with your time as well. You may be a woman who will define herself in conversation as a person "from Toledo with an interest in photography and an advanced degree in Communications who happens to be taking a leave of absence from my paid work so I can stay home with my children, and did I mention I have a selection of my photographs on display at the local library?" Or you may brush the hair from your eyes and say, "I'm a stay-at-home mom." And really, isn't it all just a matter of personal preference in the moment? Does one answer really tell us more about your soul than another?

My advice is to keep a sense of humor and save some for the rest of us out here in mommy land. Humor will save your identity and your sanity far more than well-practiced introductions that minimize the "M" word.

Many ordinary Midwestern Democrats have been cringing for two solid years, or approximately the same number of years that the Hillary Rodham Clinton name has been bandied about as a the Democrat to beat. And we boring, steady Midwestern Democrats have looked at each other and said, repeatedly, "WTF?"

We still cannot believe our ears. Initially, it was shocking; now it just dulls the senses. Hillary. How much they HATED Hillary. Our neighbors, our grandpas, our mailman. We know because we have listened to them for years. They are quiet now, in their own state of shock as their party seems hijacked by some strange guys indeed. They have enough on their plates without slamming Hillary. But they will. They loathe her, plain and simple, almost as much as they loathed her husband. She sneered at their cookies and their country western songs, they know she was sneering, and they are not going to have it. They might not say a word, but they will find a way to stay home or to accept a Huckabee, a Romney or a McCain, though they, like we, are sick to death of war and attacks on civil liberties. No matter what, they will find a way to avoid pulling that lever or coloring in that bubble for Hillary.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but her repeated claims of her "electability" are clothes on a very naked emperor, and everyone living in the middle of America knows it. From the beginining we just wanted a strong, VIABLE Democratic front runner. If the red staters could defeat Al Gore and John Kerry, two decent guys with low built-in name loathing, then what is different now? How can she possibly overcome this problem?

Don't get me wrong, I was ready to vote for her, we all were. But now, no. Barack Obama is the future, not the past. Barack Obama, without saying a word, represents the possiblity of healing and dialogue on the most intransient issue of my lifetime, racism. Once he opens his mouth he represents the possibility of reforming health care, environmental policy, our global reputation, and moving the United States toward peace and greatness.

What a thrill to replace "WTF?" with "Oh my God, we just might become a force for good in the world."

It was a lovely night.

When the Tiger's kid pitcher Justin Verlander pitched his no-hitter in June, it was all the sweeter for the way the announcers handled it. I was listening on the radio, and Dan Dickerson and Jim Price started to get really animated in the 7th. Dickerson's voice alone conveyed that there was something amazing going on. I was curious to see if Verlander could pull it off, and went to the TV to see the rest of the game. In the 8th the camera guys would shoot the row of Milwaukee zeros on the scoreboard and Mario Impemba or Rod Allen would say "This tells the story." Everyone knew what was going on, there were fans calling friends telling them to tune in, the infielders made some terrific plays behind him to keep it going, and the kid went out and threw 100 mph in the 9th to get the no-hitter. Mario Impemba screamed the actual words "No-hitter" after the last out, and the place went crazy. The first no-hitter at home in fifty years, the first Tiger no-hitter since 1984.

Superstitions like this one are silly, perhaps, but they add to the excitement that can be baseball. Please, us fans sit through some pretty boring games, give us the nailbiters with all the trimmings. Shut up Michael Kay.

The LW asks what she can do or say, and the answer is "nothing." Check yourself to see if it is a deal breaker - who knows, some people have built-in aversions to a partner's weight gain, to baldness, to illness. Only you can know yours. If he is still the same guy you cared about with a full head of hair, then all you can do is wait and see how he handles this. If he truly can't get past it, then you have a lot more information about him than you did before.

I would have a tough time staying with someone who has no tolearance for aging. Hair loss is nothing in comparison to the losses up ahead.