MarySusan—I grew up in an area and a time when people didn’t carry front door keys, because we never locked our homes.  Now I live in an apartment with two deadbolts.  Whenever I visit Upstate, I find I miss those simpler times, which seem to have taken hold there, ignoring the rest of the world.  My nephew’s high school still has a homecoming bonfire before the "big game" in September.  That takes me back.  Autumn reminds me of optimism.  This is my favorite season.

This is why I don’t own a single white garment.  Black is slimming, goes with everything, and never seems odd to New Yorkers. 

I remember Christine Lahti from the film Running on Empty, one of my all-time favorites.  When I saw her on SVU last night, I knew she looked so familiar, but I couldn’t place her, until I saw this interview.  She has a unique quality, and is a terrific, complex actress.

In 1979 I first arrived in NYC.  I had no job, no contacts, $100 exactly, and no idea where to live.  I found a horrible rooming house (first time I had ever seen a rat), worked at a temporary job I hated, looked for housing every spare minute I was not at work, and miraculously found a small apartment in Chelsea before the month at the rooming house was up and I would have had to pony up more money.  From there I found better jobs and a supportive network of women.  (The supportive boyfriend turned into a guy who knocked my confidence down at every opportunity; I broke it off after a decade of emotional abuse.) You know the expression "sleeping with one eye open"?  It’s not just an expression.

I had no idea Polaroid cameras were kaput.  I went to their website and everything is digital.  Sigh.

More of these audio discussions, please!  This was wonderful and brought up so many interesting discussion points.  I felt like I was back in college with well-educated women in my women’s studies classes, talking honestly, arguing intelligently, about topical issues.

Unfortunately, I recall sexual harassment in the late 70s and 80s, and how difficult it was to prove.  It is still pervasive in office settings, in more subtle ways.  It made for very uncomfortable working conditions—including knowing I was better qualified than the man who was hired at the same time, but he was paid more.  There were days I winced at the thought of going to work, but, of course, went anyway.  I frequently interviewed at other firms during my lunch hour.

I remember wearing heels and little wool suits, thinking women should get an allowance for pantyhose.  I recall one of my first supervisors, when I was straight out of college, saying "Ladies always wear hose, even in the summer."  So, in her office, even if you were wearing sandals, you had to wear pantyhose, in the Atlanta summers—I am so glad that rule is gone forever, along with the suits.  I still have the first suit I bought on sale at Gimbels.  I keep it for nostalgia.  It looks like doll clothing—I don’t remember being that tiny, but I was.

I liked "whadya mean they’re silicone?"  That was funny, as well as, "Its gonna cost how much to get me through college?" 

Honestly, I think about the world kids are born into these days and I don’t envy them one bit.  I don’t care for getting older, but I am glad I grew up when I did.  The sixties had problems of their own, but this seems to be the century of peoples’ jobs being replaced by computers.  No, I don’t envy children at all. 

Sorry for the downer, folks, but that’s how I feel. 

Liz—I know what you mean about picking up an accent.  I lived in Atlanta for a few years after college, and after that came back up the coast to my Yankee stomping grounds where everyone heard an accent except for me.  It showed up mainly in the way I pronounced my vowels—many found it charming—I found it puzzling.  When you are exposed to an accent, intensively over a period of years, it seeps into your unconscious.

I have loved Madonna ever since the first time I saw Desperately Seeking Susan; I must have watched that movie ten times.  I think Madonna looks damn great (I am jealous) for a woman of any age, and her dancing background shows through beautifully.  I saw a special many years back where the camera followed her as she prepared for her concert—forgive me I don’t remember the name—the one the Pope boycotted, and I admired her consistency in her dance discipline, and the way she treated her fellow dancers, such an incredible athlete.  Anything the Pope boycotts, makes me want to see it more.  As for her personal life, I think she has done many great things and is to be commended.  

Carol—Hi.  I know all that, it was dissected to death on the news.  My sticking point is Letterman himself describing his actions as "creepy, terrible," several times over.  No one put those words in his mouth—I think he may regret putting it that way.

Kirsten—Letterman himself referred to his actions as "creepy", "dirty"—so his conscience is clear, but what of the women on the receiving end?  I know they are adults, but to be covertly referred to in this fashion is not exactly a compliment. 

Maggie W.—Politicians who cheat on their wives are the fodder of many comedians jokes, so now will the jokes be turned on Letterman?  How can he make jokes about these people if he himself is guilty of the same thing?  Also, there is the question, did the female staffers (how many?) feel they would lose their jobs if they didn’t have sex with him?  Even Letterman made an allusion to saving his job in his laugh-riddled confession.  I honestly don’t care, except for the women.  I feel for them and their families.

Sue—Ticket prices have always been that high.  You have to stand in line at the TKTS Booth to get bargains, and even then you have to settle for whatever is left for that night.  You should try Off-Broadway shows.  Many of them are quite good.

Correction—A Producer of "48 Hours."  Not a writer. 

Speaking of David Letterman, why isn’t anyone speaking of David Letterman?  I was surprised and a tad offended at how he treated his exposition of sexual encounters with female staffers on last night’s show (he didn’t even name the number of women), as a joke for the most part.  He got serious when he talked about going before the Grand Jury, but the majority of his story—he had to tell it before the tabloids did it for him—was accompanied by audience laughter.  I understand he is a comic, and that is how he deals with his problems, but this is serious business.  He sent a blackmailer away for five to 15 years—a writer for CBS—who ironically wrote for "48 Hours". 

Before his first guest, Woody Harrelson, came out, he said, "Wow, I really feel sorry for the first guest coming out after that."  He asked Woody why he got married, and Woody said something like "Well, it gives one the air of respectability."  I didn’t cringe for Letterman at that point.  It is within the realm of possibility that he may lose his show.  Liz—any comments?