My belief is that she is engaged in an Andy Kaufman-esque comedy routine.

Both my sisters are hoarders, one worse than the other. The amount of stuff in their houses is enough to cause serious claustrophobia. If I visit them, I stay in a hotel. They are both now divorced after 18 and 22 years of marriage, both directly related to the state of their homes. The husbands stuck with them as long as they could...tried to help...got them on medication. Nothing worked. My sisters see nothing wrong. They are not bothered by their hoarding. Their children are embarrassed and never had friends over. I feel as though I am watching my own family descend into a Grey Gardens scenario. I agree that this is some sort of mental illness, and--at least in my family--one that is not so easily treated. I do not hold hope for the letter writer, but I encourage him to try everything. Psychiatry is definitely the first step. If it ever gets to the point of divorce, he will be able to take comfort from knowing he did everything possible to fix the situation before leaving.

I am one of these women newly drawn to gun sports. Now in my 40s, I recently took up handgun target shooting. I'm a lifelong Democrat, ultraliberal who had to overcome my hatred of the NRA to venture into the gun shop. My reasons have nothing to do with protection. I wanted a hobby that provided a stress outlet. My knees are shot, so I can't do racquetball anymore. I can't stand golf. I sit at a computer all day for my job, so I wanted something that would allow me to get up off my butt. And on days when it feels like the world is too stressful for words, I get to go to the range and tear up a target. It is amazingly, wonderfully cathartic. It challenges my mind and my skills without being overly cerebral. My husband thinks my new hobby is sexy. My friends all want to join me in doing something new and different. Target shooting (repeat: TARGET shooting) is a blast.