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Yep, Liz is the only one of that bunch deserving any sympathy (in my book). But her (almost) inevitable descent into "stardom" will make that sympathy very difficult to sustain.

I know. But just bear in mind that that descent is probably totally out of her control (which makes me feel even WORSE for her). The caveat always stands that I could be completely wrong about all of this, that the Smarts could be straight up, but this part of it -- the book & movie rights -- is reprehensible ANY way you look at it, on the parents' part.

God bless your mother, and thank Goodness she's still with us. I feel the same about my own folks, and am extremely grateful for their health, sanity, love, etc.

Thank you *so* much, I really appreciate that. The poor woman has had, in the space of fifteen months, a lung cancer scare, a burst appendix and emergency appendectomy, then two days OUT of the hospital on that one she collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage...and she managed to catch every bit of luck she could (thank God my father found her in time), no brain damage, no stroke (possibly a small one but we're not sure), she's walking, talking, back to her old self, then wham, we had the ovarian cancer scare, now she's through that, but needless to say it's taken a great toll on her (and us), and once again, I really appreciate the kind words.

And, tangentially, I cannot praise Mass General Hospital enough, and the staff that nursed my mother back to life after the aneursym (same staff that very gravely told us she probably wouldn't make it out of the hospital -- it was honesty we needed to hear at the time, and I thank them for that, too) -- and whoever the hell shot that doctor today should fry. Grrrr. Anyway, if I get hurt severely in any way, I sure as heck know I'm going to be shouting, "Take me to Mass General! Nowhere else!" as much as I can. :-)

Back to the main point, though, this, to me -- if I'm right about my suspicions -- yet another further anecdotal story that can be filed away under "Decay of the American Family". The moral relativists and multiculturalists and...well, your garden-variety liberals, the usual suspects...have been trying to destroy the normal family for decades. In some cases it works and lunatics get to raise children. In other cases, there are still good parents out there who care for their children with all their heart, would NEVER pimp their child out like this, would have (if I'm right) admitted that she ran away *immediately* so as to get her back home *faster*. We lucked out, getting good families, we really did, and I send all my best to you & yours as well in continued health, good spirit, and all that good stuff.