I check into WOWOWOW often and enjoy the site, and already feel quite familiar with a number of delightful “posters” as well as the official columnists. But it was a special surprise treat to find today’s visit with Ann Richards, and see these GREAT pictures, and enjoy the pleasure, somewhat poignant, of course, of “listening” to people yakking about Ann. Yes, she was a unique, gorgeous personality, and the weight of the staggering hard work behind her fun glamor, and the depth of her caring, and the bone tired effort to lift lift lift our society, gave her a gravitas unmatched in politics today. I remember seeing a picture of a group of rural people who had just finished rebuilding a burned down barn for a needy neighbor. They had worked without rest to get it done, and the whole community was out, cooking for the crew, bringing things that were needed, cheering them on, working in shifts. They stood grinning for a big picture when it was done, and you’ve never seen such beautiful bunch of wiped out people in your life. I think of Ann Richards working like that. And smiling just as beatifically, a sophisticated angel. You ask about what sort of presentation I’m working on, Iris. It is a play, intended for a regular theatrical production, but should it succeed, and have a life, I would hope there could be a scaled down version of it, perhaps to be given in a concert situation. But for now, it is a play, a “SHOW”, and it is largely in her own words (but not entirely…there are some moments of what I hope is inspired invention!) . There are some big differences in the “conceit”, but I suppose it is somewhat along the lines of Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain Tonight (oh, may it have a fraction of the wonderful reception that great work has had!). What I intend is a celebration of the public Ann Richards. The things that might be personal matters, (like her experience with addictions), are “hung out” only to the extent SHE hung them out. And only spoken of as SHE spoke of them. I want to stir memories, and hearts, crack wise, and remind everyone how she made us LAFF… and how she’d quicken one’s pulse of hope…in a kind of ” a touch of Ann, in the night” way. Nothing more. My God, if I could do that, that would be plenty. I think the idea came to me how to do this because I need at least the sense of Ann Richards in my life. Especially now, when my dear country feels like we’re sliding down a sandy hill and going too fast!. I had no idea how crucial AR was somehow to my will to go on and believe in the future— that “we’d be all right” —- until she was gone. I see all these great pictures Liz has posted, and I am cheered, and I have a little lift in my heart. And perhaps, as I go about my day, asking myself, as I sometimes do, when facing a test, “what would Ann do?”—- perhaps the best of ME will rise up. Perhaps I will be less lazy, perhaps I will remember that the curtain is always up in the really important performance. Maybe I’ll help build the barn. Being together in the theatre is wonderful “community”. I have memories of being moved at a play, and turning to a perfect stranger to share the moment, and finding eyes, suddenly intimate. And now, I remember the play. And the stranger. I hope to have that communal sharing of a big box of “snapshots” of Ann!