of knowing the screenplay writers - Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch. Incredibly warm and generous people.

Norma Rae and Hud, among many others. How cool that you knew them.

managed a motel on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington State during the 1980’s, where Harriet (Hank) and Irving spent their summers until they found some beach front property to buy. They adored my mother, and deservedly so, and, because of that they were very accepting of me.

In the early ‘90’s they invited the two of us to be their guests at their home in the Hollywood Hills. I’ll never forget the dinner party they had, which included the British film director, Jonathan Lynn and his Lithuanien, pagan, and psychotherapist wife, Rita. Shortly afterwards, his film, My Cousin Vinny, hit the theaters.

I still can’t believe I really had that experience.

Mostly famous for the prison (featured in "Stir Crazy" with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor).

One of the things I love about the town is the county courthouse. When they built it, they included a clock tower, but did not have enough funds left over for the clock mechanism - so they just painted the hands on the clock face set for 11:44. To this day, it has remained that way.

Garner is excellent.

She:
I have an uncle in Dallas who would call you a bleeding-heart liberal.

He:
Lady, I don't give a diddly shit what they call me, and I don't know if the organ is bleeding or not, but according to my EKG I've got one.

I’ll never forget Murphy saying “you can carry a gun but you can’t get an abortion”. Seems timely now.