There’s no LOL in this story, Lorraine.  This woman suffers from a mental illness, which, although obvious to her neighbors, went untreated as they affectionately referred to her as ‘Crazy Lady’.  She’s not eccentric, a kook, those who do, say, wear the unusual because they choose to.

Recently, AARP featured an article about Glenn Close becoming the new spokesperson for mental health/mental illness.  Ms. Close has experienced  the spectrum of emotions affecting client and family as members of her family have been touched by mental illness.  One of the professionals who made the announcement with Ms. Close told the reporter that Close had been reluctant to get involved initially for fear people would think she suffered some mental illness.  How sad is that, I thought.  Then here we have ‘Crazy Lady’, kook. 

Still, Close’s comment, while perhaps making headway, still does not remove the stigma of mental illness.  I’d like to find out that she was misquoted.  Liz Smith, could you ask her about that, just between readings at Literacy Partners  Thank you, Sweetie Dahling.

Peace and grace