Saturday 9

Saturday 9: It Don't Come Easy (1971)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

And I love him

1) This was Ringo's first big hit as a solo artist. Who is your favorite member of his old, very famous group, The Beatles? I've loved Sir Paul since I first laid tiny little Gal eyes on him in February 1964.

 
2) In this song, Ringo sings that you have to pay your dues. Do you belong to any organizations that require you to pay dues? Nope

3) He also sings, "you don't have to shout." When did you last raise your voice? I can't remember. Which is very nice, actually.

4) Ringo has two piercings on each ear and one tattoo on each arm. Do you have more piercings or body art? One hole in each ear. Dull, isn't it?
 

5) Ringo gave his first wife, Maureen, a one-of-a-kind birthday gift. Frank Sinatra made a recording of "The Lady Is a Tramp" personalized to her. Tell us about one of your most memorable birthday celebrations. First, I'd love to hear the recording. Now that Mo is gone, who has it? I WANT TO HEAR IT! Second, I always love my birthday and appreciate every giftie and all the good wishes.

6) Ringo appeared as Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine. He recorded the narration for the entire first season in just a week. Tell us what you did last week. I had a pretty good week at work. Things are starting to break my way politically and I did something so right for my client. Personally, it was tough. I'm a Cub fan, and I love, love, love this team. It was hard to watch those Mets games. It was hard to say goodbye to my guys after such a glorious season.

7) Ringo also did the narration for Ladybird children's books. Do you like audiobooks? Yes. My favorite is Furious Love, the wonderful biography of

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. I keep it on my iPod so when I'm doing something incredibly mundane -- like plugging quarters into the washer  or waiting for the bus in the rain -- I can distract myself with the jewels and the glamour and the money and the sex. I try never to listen all the way through, though. For Furious Love does a great job of portraying them as two beautiful, doomed drunks who were helpless to keep their addictions from destroying their marriage. I only want the fun parts of their story, not the tragic part.

8) As a boy in Liverpool, Ringo loved watching American westerns. His passion

for the genre is reflected in the outfit he's wearing on the sleeve for "It Don't Come Easy." Do you like cowboy movies/shows? I never used to. But then, during the summer of 2014, I was sidelined with a bad cold and discovered all the 1960s era shows every afternoon on MeTV and TVLand. Now I love them. The cowboys are so handsome and good and true. I don't really like movie Westerns much. Clint Eastwood's are too dark and violent, and I maintain that John Wayne is the most overrated star in the history of ... stars.

9) You know what else don't come easy? Nine questions every week. Crazy Sam has heard it all: this meme asks too many movie questions, too many questions about sports, too many questions that sound familiar ...  OK, now it's your turn. Help a tired meme mistress out. Contribute a random question that is not about movies or sports (pro or collegiate) and has never been asked before on this meme. Sam will compile these for an all-random Saturday 9 in November. That way she'll get a much-appreciated week off. Thanks for your help! I think I'll kick back and let everyone else answer this question.

Day off

Today I began burning off all those unused vacation days. I didn't accomplish very much -- just switched my Saturday afternoon hair appointment to Friday -- and this leaves Saturday open for errands and my movie group's Halloween gettogether.

I get my hair done in my old hometown. I've known my stylist since we were kids. Our families know one another. Which is why I think he was so comfortable unburdening himself to me.

His parents are in their late 80s, and they're fading fast. His siblings are not all equally involved in their care or their finances. It's depressing and exhausting. I know, I've been there. He knows I have. After all, he knew my mom and both my sisters.

The stereotype may be that your stylist is like your bartender, the one who listens patiently to all your troubles. Today, the roles were reversed.

It happened again

While I'm a longtime Clintonista, my loyalty only extends to Bill. Not Hillary. I wrote a post about why back when this campaign (really) started in 2014, and it's all still true. In a nutshell, I believe his weakness is sex and hers is money and I understand lust more than greed.

But damn if I'm not going to send her a contribution. Because once again, those who attack the Clintons are so over-the-top and unfair I must support her. It's been happening on the national stage for nearly 25 years, and it happened again this week. She testified again about the Benghazi raid, this time for eleven hours. It was grueling. It was ridiculous. And it was pointless. Even committee chairman Trey Gowdy admitted nothing new was learned.

Except that she is unflappable and in command and exhibits the qualities I want to see in a President when the pressure is on.

I'm not sure that's what the committee hoped to accomplish.

Back to real life

The Cubs lost four straight to the Mets. This magic season is over.

After the final game, once the victors hat left the field, these heartbroken yet gallant young (so very young!) men came out to applaud and tip their hats to the Wrigley Field faithful. I found it quite touching.

But now that it's over, I'm back to real life. I can't believe that I spent today mourning the Cubs and not monitoring the all-day Benghazi hearing! That's so not like me!

I wonder what else happened in the world when I was living with Playoff Fever.

Looking for the pony

I love that old joke: A kid finds a pile of manure and begins happily
digging because, "there must be a pony in here somewhere."

And so, even though I'm heartsick over tonight's Cub loss, I'm going to catalog the pretty little ponies I found today.

•  Good day at work. They were small victories, to be sure, but they made me happy. After much kicking and screaming, Christine the Mole actually did something I asked her to ... and she did it well. I have 14 vacation days accumulated, nearly 3 weeks, that I must take between now and December 31. I scheduled them today and discovered that, between vacation and the Thanksgiving break, I'll work less than two weeks in November. Cool!

•  My cat, Joe. Joey is old. His eyes are cloudy and his vision blurred. Because of his arthritis he has a hard time grooming himself, so his fur has become a sea of little mats. But he is still so happy. He is quite social, pressing himself up against me and purring loudly. His appetite is strong and, best of all, every day or so he actually plays. He'll either initiate a boxing match with Reynaldo or allow himself to be drawn into one with Connie. I am grateful for his healthy, joyful heart and for every day we have together.

•  Vegas, baby! My oldest friend and I will be there in a month. I did a little research and discovered a mob museum. This appeals to my sense of the ridiculous, and my friend will love it, as she has an ongoing and incongruous fascination with the Mafia. So Saturday night we'll go to the mob museum and Sunday night we're seeing Diana Ross. We'll have a lovely, goofy time!

Tired

I feel bad about how tired I feel. I mean, this wonderful Cub team, who have been such a delight all year, went down to such high profile defeat as a cold, steady rain fell on the field. It must have been so much harder on them than it is on me.

Those poor kids.

That was hard to watch

I woke up with Lenny Kravitz running through my head: "So many tears I cried/so much pain inside/but, baby, it ain't over till it's over ..."

Yes, it's me

I've had so much fun with this clever promotion for the upcoming Peanuts movie. If you'd like to "peanutize" yourself, click here.

Sunday Stealing

Swiped

William Devane as JFK

1. Did someone die in that last movie you watched? No. It was The Missiles of October, about the Cuban Missile Crisis, and no one died because of the wisdom, imagination and temperament of the man we were lucky enough to have in the Oval Office in 1962. Something to keep in mind when we vote in 2016.

2. Are the trees pretty colors outside for you now or at all? The tree outside my livingroom window is currently awash in brown leaves.

3. Have you ever made a bad first impression on someones parents? All the time.

4. When's the last time you video recorded something on TV? See Question 1.

My long ago career inspiration

5. What is a career you wanted to have when you were younger, and still kind of want to have now? When I was younger I wanted to be a reporter, but I don't anymore.

6. What are your views on sunflowers? They are good for feed in Farmville 2.

7. What is your favorite incense or candle scent? Cinnamon.

8. Caramel apples or candy apples? They're not the same thing? I've gotta go to Google and get educated.

9.  Have you ever walked into a wall? I just did on Wednesday. At Pret a Manger, they are clear glass and yes, I mistook a wall or a door and made an idiot of myself.

10. Would you ever or do you make your dog wear a bandanna? I am not philosophically opposed putting a bandana on a dog.

11. Do you find dandelions when they're gone all white pretty? Yes

12. What makes you laugh? Ah, Lydia.



13. The scariest moment of your life? Seven years ago I was nearly hit by a cab. I remember it as though it was yesterday.

14. What’s the coolest thing you’ve bought lately? Three pair of jeans that actually fit.

15. What’s the worst you’ve had to do because of losing a bet?  Nothing outrageous or bad comes to mind. Usually my bets involve $1 or candy from the vending machine.

Saturday 9

Beyond the Sea

1) This song mentions golden sands. When do you think you'll next visit the beach? I'll be in Key West again for the holidays. My friend and I like to walk the beach on Christmas morning. Last year we met a lovely couple who had risen even earlier than we had and put this charming little Christmas tree on the sand.

2) Shortly after "Beyond the Sea" hit the charts, Bobby Darin  met and married movie sweetheart Sandra Dee. Her squeaky-clean image is spoofed in the song, "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee," from Grease. Can you name another song from Grease?  "Summer days, drifting away, but oh! Those summer nights ..."

3) Years earlier, Bobby had an ill-fated romance with singer Connie Francis. According to Ms. Francis, Darin wanted to marry her, but her father forbade it. Have you ever had a relationship that your parents disapproved of? Yes, but it wasn't a romance. I had a girlfriend in high school who made my parents nuts. She was very arty and very smart. It sounds weird, but my parents objected to her because it's when I began hanging around with her, I stopped caring about being popular. My parents had been teens in the 1950s, and for them a daughter to be proud of was a daughter who was cute, dated a lot and had a lot of clubs listed after her name in the yearbook. I was a tremendous disappointment to them, and they blamed her.

4) Bobby was a Renaissance man: Grammy-winning singer, Oscar-nominated actor, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and an excellent chess player. Are you good at chess? I'm terrible at chess. 

5) A car buff, he drove a 1960 custom car that was so unique and spectacular it's now in a Detroit museum. The bright red paint was mixed with ground diamonds to ensure that it sparkled in the sun. Each of the four bucket seats had its own ac/heat control and radio speaker. The steering wheel was slightly squared for easier handling. What features would your dream car have? A driver

6) Beyond the Sea is also the name of the 2004 screen biography in which Kevin Spacey played Bobby Darin. Who would you choose to play you in the story of your life? Carrie Fisher.

7) When he was just 8 years old, Bobby Darin was stricken with rheumatic fever, and the disease left him with a dangerously weakened heart. Did you spend much time in the hospital when you were a kid? No, but one summer did find me in the same ER three times. First I hurt my ankle jumping off a lifeguard's chair, second I tripped down the stairs and damaged my shoulder, and then I was jumping on my bed and cracked my chin on the headboard. That last one resulted in a lot of blood. My dad did what he could to stop the bleeding before bundling me up and taking me to the hospital. His shirt was still all bloody. As the doctor stitched me up, he and the nurse kept exchanging meaningful looks. Then the nurse took me to a separate room and a very nice lady came in with a file with my name on it. "Want to tell me what happened this afternoon?" she asked. "Your dad can't hear you." I was too young to understand it at the time, but clearly the hospital was suspicious of my injuries. My parents were desperately offended, but in retrospect I think it's great that the doctors and nurses were looking out for the children in my community.

8) In 1959, when "Beyond the Sea" was popular, Alaska became our 49th state. What comes to mind when you think of Alaska? The Alaskardashians -- Sarah and Bristol Palin.

9) In 1959, Conair introduced the first hair dryer developed for home use. Is there a hair dryer in your bathroom right now? Yup.

The world is treating me bad ... Misery!

I care about my job. I really want to do well. But as The Big Project grinds on and on (the launch date -- originally in September -- is now early December), I'm finding it harder to care.

A big part of the problem remains Christine the Mole. She is very good at getting things done and making the trains run on time, but she's not a strategic thinker. She's focused on accomplishing the task before her and doesn't understand the ramifications of some of the client's requests. When I raise issues, and explain that if we do as asked we aren't really serving our client, Christine's response is, invariably, "I don't agree."

So? 

She's a freelancer! Why am I justifying myself to a freelancer? Her last day (God willing!) will be December 15. I have to live with the after effects of her short sightedness and resistance.

Thursday night, after a day of battle, I just felt so alone. I wanted to be distracted. I want to laugh. So I called my oldest friend.

She no longer has a landline and her cellphone voice mail was full. So I texted her. Hours later I got a text back -- she was at dinner with her daughter and would call me back if they didn't get home "too late." I never heard from her again.

I know that she's dealing with her own shit. She's in that program for bipolar disorder three days/week and back at work on Thursdays and Fridays. I am supportive of her efforts to get well and try to understand (as best I can) about her challenges.

But here's the thing: she expects me to be there for her, whenever. Like turning on the tap or flipping on the light switch. It is not reciprocal.

That hurts.

Greetings from the brink of disaster

I'm watching The Missiles of October, the 3 hour, made-for-TV movie about the
Cuban Missile Crisis. The production values aren't great -- it's basically a stage play shot on video tape. But the script, which is based on oral histories and news stories and notes by the men who were there, is literate and compelling. It doesn't sensationalize events because it doesn't have to. The stakes in this real-life drama were as high as they can possibly get.

William Devane does an exceptional job as JFK. He has the hair, the accent, the cadence and the mannerisms. More than that, he captures the intellect, the wit, and the curious but wonderful combination of detachment and compassion that made the real man so special.

Watching a TV movie about the world on the precipice of thermonuclear war makes me think of the reality show we're all currently watching.

"It is insane that two men, sitting on opposite sides of the world, should be able to decide to bring an end to civilization." So said JFK to his Cabinet in October 1962.

You know what else is insane? Voting Donald Trump as one of those two men.

Meet the Mets

Starting Saturday, my Cubs are gonna begin taking an up close and personal look at the New York Mets. As a lifelong Cub fan of a certain age, I can tell you that this series is positively BIBLICAL.

Because of 1969.

The 1969 Cubs are THE Cubs team. These are the players of lore, the ones whose numbers are retired, whose statues surround Wrigley Field. Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins. (And Glen Beckert, Don Kessinger, Randy Hundley and Kenny Holtzman, who pitched a no-hitter ... not that I'm a Cub geek or anything.) They were in first place from Opening Day, and come August they were 75-44.

Then they folded.

They lost 17 of their last 25 games and finished in second place. To the METS. The team that went on to win the World Series. The one that should have been ours.

I remember all this so clearly. When you're a kid, time moves differently and summers seem to last forever. All summer long, the Cubs won. Riding my bike up and down the street, I could hear the games coming through the screen doors and car radios. My guys were invincible. All they did was win. It was a way of life.

Then school started, and the world changed. I got home from school before 4:00 to see the end of each game (the Cubs still played only day games at home back then) and what the hey? Night games on the road were worse because my dad was home. Sitting in his recliner, smoking cigarette after cigarette, looking first tense and then defeated, right along with his team.

It was awful. Like attending the same wake day after day.

And now, Saturday night, it's the Cubs again on a tear and the team standing between them and the World Series is the Mets.

My dad is in heaven, watching.

They've got to win this for him.

I felt like a pioneer woman!

I was without the internet all day on Friday. Something went awry at my agency's New York and Chicago offices that knocked out something fiber optic and we were down. Not just Microsoft Office ... everything!

I stayed downtown for six hours, hoping the connection would be restored. After all, Friday is a big day in Farmville! My art director and I made revisions to two projects -- I put the new copy on a thumb drive and handed it to him -- but we couldn't send PDFs to the client because no internet. We offered to fax the work to their offices, but they declined. Our client explained that they have no procedure for routing work manually anymore, everything has to go electronically.

So much for roughing it. It started to seem so pointless, so at 4:00 I packed it in and went home, thinking that the internet is the biggest deal since movable type.

Go, Cubs, Go!

The Cubs beat the Cardinals and it only took four games. Gulp! I barely believe this is happening.

I'm a Cub fan. My grandparents were Cub fans, my dad was a Cub fan, and so it is in my blood. It's so basic to my being that I don't remember becoming a Cub fan. That would be like trying to recall the moment when I first smiled.

I love the crack of the bat and the sound of the ball hitting the glove. I love a player's pants after he slides into third. I love the ivy on the walls and the beautiful old scoreboard. I love it all. The allure of a baseball game within The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field cannot be overestimated. It's such a sensuous experience that winning seemed almost incidental. I'm not kidding. Win or lose, I've never had a bad time at the ballpark.

Tonight though, I can say, WINNING IS FUN! WINNING IS REAL, CRAZY FUN!

Sunday Stealing

The Alphabet Thing

A: Accent -- I wish I had a classy English/Scottish accent. Like Mary Poppins, or Ducky from NCIS.

B: Breakfast -- My favorite meal to eat out. I love dining on eggs at a coffee shop while reading a good book. A great way to start my weekend!

C: Chore you hate -- All of 'em.

D: Dad's name -- Bill

E: Essential everyday item -- iPod Nano. Gotta have my tunes.

F: Flavor ice cream -- Mint chocolate chip

G: Gold or silver -- Silver

H: Hometown -- Sweet Home, Chicago

I: Insomnia -- Not recently

J: Job title -- Workhorse/Whipping Girl. (I'm feeling rather exploited at the office these days.)

K: Kids -- "Kids! What's the matter with kids today? Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way? What's the matter with kids today?" Bye, Bye Birdie

M: Mother's birthplace -- The burbs. One particular one, in fact. She was born at home in a small town. She lived in a different suburb for about two years when she was in her 20s and then moved back. She and my dad bought her parents house, so she lived most of her life in the same house. She died in a nursing home in that very same town. On the one hand, I can't believe how small my mother's life was. On the other hand, I'm glad she was so content.

N: Number of significant others -- Zip. Zero. Zilch.

O: Overnight hospital stays -- Two. I am grateful for the quality of care I received both times.

P: Phobia -- I do not like air travel. I really don't.

Q: Quick at -- making decisions.

R: Religious affiliation -- A private affair. My faith plays a big part in my life, but I'm distrustful of evangelicals and those who infuse the townsquare with their religion. I don't believe you're supposed to use your relationship with God to gain power for yourself. Remember how Jesus dealt with the buyers/sellers in church?

S: Siblings -- Two sisters

T: Time you wake up -- 7:00-ish

U: Unnatural hair colors -- I had 'em in my younger, party girl days.

V: Vegetable you refuse to eat -- Raw tomatoes

W: Worst habit -- Sloth

 X: X-rays -- Getting dental x-rays next weekend when I have my checkup/cleaning

Y: Yummy -- "Yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy. And I feel like lovin' you!" An earwig recorded by the Ohio Express in the late 1960s.

Z: Zodiac sign -- I'm on the cusp between Scorpio and Sagittarius.

Well, then!

So the Cubs prevailed yesterday amidst a sea of red. And a child led us. Kyle Hendricks, age 25, in his first post-season game, kept his head and went deep. Not easy, since he began the game by giving up a solo home run to the first batter.

Why I want Michael J. Fox to appear at Wrigley Field this year

I am so loving this playoff season! I am honestly surprised we're here, and I'm delighted by every moment. It's good baseball and it's engaging. No matter where we end up, I'll always be grateful for the 2015 season.

Oh, and by the way ... I see a lot of movies, but one I missed was Back to the Future II. Therefore, I didn't know until recently that in 1989, audiences saw Michael J. Fox/Marty McFly discover that the 2015 Cubs won the World Series. How cool would it be if life imitated art?

Saturday 9

Cheerleader

1) Homecoming and football make this an important time of year for cheerleaders. Were you a cheerleader, or did you date one? Ha! I don't think I ever even spoke to one. In high school I was into Sylvia Plath and Ms magazine, not "pep."

2) Beyond cheerleaders and the big game, homecoming is a time for parades. Have you ever ridden on a float? No. See above.

3) OMI sings that his girl is always there when he needs her. Who do you know you can always count on? I would say my oldest friend. But she's dealing with a lot of her own shit right now. So if something catastrophic went down, I'd turn to John. We've been through a lot together, too, and we're very comfortable together. That no-drama ease would help chill me through a rough patch.

4) This video features a sandy beach, a rocky shore and palm trees. What do you see outside your window right now? Well, it's after midnight as I answer these questions, so it's very dark outside. All I can see are streetlights and a few scattered houselights from the apartment building across the way.

5) In the lyrics we hear that his cheerleader girlfriend is "like a genie in a bottle." Who would rather hang around with? Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie or Samantha from Bewitched? Definitely Sam. Jeannie was such an airhead. Plus, I'm in advertising and Sam had so much experience helping Darrin develop campaigns. I think she'd be a valuable friend to have.

6) OMI is from Jamaica. Have you ever visited that island country? Nope.

7) Christopher Columbus landed in Jamaica in 1494. Columbus Day will soon be upon us (October 12). Is it a big deal in your community? Not really. The city is very energized, but it's because of the Cubs and the Chicago Marathon, not Christopher Columbus.

8) Queen Elizabeth is Jamaica's head of state. Her Majesty is now 89 years old and a great grandmother. Who is the oldest person in your life? My Aunt Jo (my dad's side of the family) just turned 70. My Cousin Rose (my mom's side) will be turning 70 in February. So 70 is the age!

9) Her Majesty was named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary after three of her relatives, who also were queens. Were you named after anyone? No.

Outclassed by our past

That's a lyric from "What Did I Have that I Don't Have?" This Broadway chestnut was running through my head as I replayed this afternoon's Cubs-Cardinals playoff game in my head.

We dropped the first game 4-0. Our team is young, loose and crazy talented. The Cards are older and injured ... and more experienced. This Cardinal team has been here before. This Cub team has never been anywhere together before. Both our bats and our bullpen were cold today.

As a franchise, the Cardinals have a history of winning. As a franchise, my Cubs do not. I think we were simply outclassed by our past -- both short and long term.

But it was one game in a best-of-five series. Friday's game is over, Saturday's game is the focus. As our manager Joe Maddon says, "Play for today." Joe's mantra has gotten us this far.

These kids are called The Cardiac Cubs for a reason. Unpredictable, energetic and with more talent than they quite know what to do with yet, they deliver thrills and chills.

I cannot wait until Saturday's game!

He'll always be family

Today he would be 75

John Lennon came into my life when I was 6 years old. I was never in love with him, the way I fell for Sir Paul.* I didn't really like him, either. He was always too angular, too prickly, too raspy. But John was always a force to be reckoned with. A leader. Even as a little girl, I knew The Beatles were really just two brilliantly talented guys and two very lucky ones.

He influenced me. I loved the word play in his poetry. "No Flies on Frank" from In His Own Write still makes me laugh, even after all these years. "He took his head in his hands … and clubbed her."

I loved his political passion. "Power to the people, right on!" Some of his stunts for peace confused me then, and still do in retrospect, but I admired his commitment, anger and integrity.

I hated Yoko, and blamed drugs for their passion. I drink and I've done coke, but nothing more, because watching John and Yoko just get dirtier and messier and wackier had a greater impact on me than Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign.
 
So today he would have turned 75, if some crazy SOB hadn't been able to get his hands on a gun. And I miss him. I've been listening to my favorite John solo song, "Watching the Wheels." It speaks to me, more and more with time.

He might not have been my teen dream, but in my heart, he'll always be my family.

God bless you, John. Peace!






* My mom told me that while watching The Lads on The Ed Sullivan Show, I said of Macca, "He's so pretty it hurts to look!" I still feel that way.

"WE ARE GOOD"

How awesome were my Cubs tonight? TOTALLY awesome! 

It feels like Christmas Eve!

October 7, 7:05 PM, Cubs vs. Pirates. One game, winner-take-all wildcard playoff.

I CANNOT WAIT!

I'll be watching from my sofa. I can't celebrate and party as I'd wanted because I have to do a client presentation at the office on the 8th. (UGH!)

But I don't want to allow that to harsh my Cubbie buzz. I am so happy.

Go, Cubs, Go!

Like a fever we all had

Rockingham ... Brentwood .... Mezzaluna ... "the white Bronco" ... "ugly-ass Bruno Magli shoes" .... Kato ... Ito ... It's all coming back. The vocabulary that was unique to us 20 years ago. The OJ Simpson trial was our national obsession. I'm watching a documentary about his crime and his two trials, and just hearing those phrases reminds me. I knew the facts of the case. I knew the timeline.

Twenty years ago I was working out by O'Hare airport and from my office window I could see the hotel where OJ was staying when the police notified him of his ex-wife's murder. I recall being surprised when I heard broadcasters refer to the nearby "field" where OJ was suspected of ditching the murder weapon. It was just a narrow, overgrown vacant lot. A tawdry and ugly patch by the highway.

"Tawdry and ugly" pretty much sums up this entire sad saga.

I use their photos here, not his

Yet it continues to fascinate me because of all the issues it raises. Race and gender. The nature of celebrity. The cruel vagaries of fate that put the Goldman family on a collision course with "the Juice." Memories of the abusive relationship I endured. The powerful, toxic mix of passion and codependence and sex and violence. If that relationship hadn't ended when it did, I wonder if I would have eventually met a similar fate. How karma finally caught up with Simpson and landed him in a Nevada prison.

In a way, it was the first reality show any of us ever saw. Fittingly, it was the Simpson case that introduced the word "Kardashian" to our vernacular.

Well, the OJ Fever we all had finally broke and we all went on with our lives. But Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown haven't had these past 20 years. I am sorry for that, and say a little prayer for them.