When President Jimmy Carter forgave the Vietnam draft dodgers who fled to Canada, my then husband, Nick, agreed with the decision, immediately. Nick served honorably in the USMC, including 13 months in Vietnam, in 1968+. His reaction still amazes me. I don't think that I have that kind of forgiveness in me.

I am completely amazed that people are just discovering what a complete piece of shit is Mel Gibson. I've known this for decades. He takes misogyny to new heights.

In 1975, my daughter Stephanie (aged nine), received her wish for a baby sister, who we (Nick and I) named Jennifer. A couple of days later, Jen and I came home from the hospital. At this time, we had two pets, Tiger the cat and Princess the dog. Nick said that we needed to introduce Jen to Princess so that she (Jen) wouldn't threaten her position in the hierarchy of the house. When we came into the living room, Nick set Jen, in her carrier, onto the floor so that Princess could meet her. Princess snuffed and sniffed her for about 15 minutes. From that moment on, Princess apparently considered Jen to be her pup. She would follow her around all over our property. The mother instinct, when it exists, is very powerful.