(2) ALICEANN ASKS MY ADVICE ON HOW TO COPE WITH THAT HUSBAND OF OURS.

OUR SISTER JANETH'S HAND IS ON DICK'S SHOULDER, BUT
THE REST OF HER IS SO UNFLATTERING I'VE CROPPED IT.
SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL WELL INTO HER 80S.

May 15, 1991

From letter to my brother, Dick

      I was happy to hear that you liked Take My Ex.  Publishing a book has added a lot of excitement to my life.  I've autographed copies in two bookstores and appeared on a local cable TV program called "Pierson to Person."     

     At first the idea of even giving a newspaper interview was alarming‑‑how could I express myself properly without my computer and Roget's Thesaurus?  But gradually I've begun to relax and enjoy the experience.  "Pierson to Person" was great fun because the host arranged for Ed and Aliceann to call in halfway through the program, with the Florida Malleys answering questions and making comments from their two telephones.  They were both articulate and funny.  

     Aliceann told the host and his viewers that she calls me from time to time to ask my advice on how to cope with that husband of ours.  It gets her goat when they are out boating and Ed tells her to bring the boat into the wind.
     "I say I don't know where the wind is or how to bring the boat into it."  Then Ed says, `Barbara used to do it,' and I say, `But I'm not Barbara!'"
    "Atta girl," I said into the mike.  "You tell 'im!"                  

ALICEANN PHOTO BY BBM AT TIM'S COOKOUT

     Wig has been generous about mentioning my book frequently on  his program.  Only this morning a friend told me she happened to tune into "Pierson to Person" just as Wig was announcing that my book had sold four thousand copies.
     Actually that figure represents the number of copies Little, Brown has distributed to bookstores all over the country.  They printed a total of seven thousand, and of course I'm hoping there will be a second printing.  And yes, dear brother, it would be very exciting if a movie producer became interested in my book. . . .