A very dear friend of mine died of lung cancer after having smoked a couple of packs of unfiltered turkish cigarettes a day for most of his life. It seemed such a god-awful waste of a wonderful human being. I stopped smoking then and there and have never had another cigarette.

I absolutely concur with Lily Tomlin. I guess that’s why they say that dogs have masters; cats have servants. Other than that, my boss enjoys creating crises which raise my blood pressure and require a large G&T when I get home.

That is so true! If you dial 911 in L.A., you either get a busy signal or a recording which tells you they are busy and to just wait for an operator. And then when you get a real person, they put you on hold. I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve never had to call for myself, but that was my experience when I dialed 911 because my neighbor’s gentlemen friend was beating the hell out of her against the wall adjoining our apartments.

None, thank god! That last wedding I attended went on for 24 hours and totally exhausted me!

I think perhaps “changed” is the incorrect word. Probably “lost” would be more appropriate. I was brought up as a Christian. But as far as I can see, religious differences have caused more wars and more deaths than any other reason in human history. Perhaps if people actually adhered to the principals of the world’s major religions, all this bloodshed would stop. But as the song says, “we have God [or god] on our side” so we must be in the right. Pity that all sides of a conflict think they have God on their side! If there is a God, it’s pretty clear that he’s not on any particular side; I would say that he couldn’t care less how many humans get slaughtered in his name. My “god” is Gaia, the earth, and the wondrous things in it, our galaxy and its breathtakingly beautiful stars, and the incredible, mysterious universe, with its secrets which we humans are gradually discovering. There is no God but what we invent to explain the randomness of the universe and to give us reason against blind fate for all those things over which we have no control in our lives.

I just looked at the poll results. God, you are a bunch of teetotalers. It must be something to do with the Puritans. Having wine with your evening meal is a defining characteristic of a civilized society. Seems the pundits are wrong and Americans still haven’t got there yet. Its especially disappointing in the context of this forum since its I was under the impression that its principals are sophisticated women of the world (in the best sense of the phrase).

I would have to say my straightening tongs. I have struggled so many years with curling tongs to get my hair under control that when I finally discovered the straightening tongs, it was like a miracle. No more frizzy ends! I certainly couldn’t live without the internet and email!

Love the “Marriage Bed” Liz. Makes a great statement about this topic. How does one ever know if the “one that got away” would have been the right one had he stayed? I just know that my life would have turned out totally different if things had worked out between us. Whether that would have been for the better or the worse I sometimes wonder. I have to say that I subscribe to the old adage “it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” but I also believe in kismet, so perhaps it was fated not to succeed. P.S. I just wanted to say that I am huge fan of yours Liz. Despite your rather frivolous occupation, there is a real depth to you and I enjoy your contributions to this site no end.

None. I haven’t watched television for about 10 years. The only thing I can think of that I might have missed is something on Masterpiece Theater.

Just wanted to say how much I admire Liz Smith. She is certainly a role model for all those bright young things who think that getting older means getting dull and boring. P.S. Go Hillary!!!

OMG, I’d just kill for Jane Wagner’s bookcases. I might want a bit larger desk (where’s the printer?), but love the circular room.

A Man and A Woman - Claude Lelouch’s Une Homme et Une Femme. I kind of see myself being swept off my feet at a train station.

The idea that Hillary could be Barack’s vice-president! You’re out of your minds!

OMG yes. It’s quite frightening. I see her in myself all the time. The way I look, how I’m aging. I hated her for most of her life, although after years of therapy on my part and some mellowing on her part (after she turned 80), we did in fact end up on fairly good terms. She was an incredibly selfish, self-centered, emotionally violent mother, and she impacted the essential me in ways from which I can never escape. I spent my life trying to earn her approval, and I’m still doing it, despite the fact that she has been dead for eight years! And now I can see myself turning into her! Aaaaargggghhh!!!

Obviously none of you live in Los Angeles where looking old is totally prohibited, even if you are old!