A question/comment from pal Vickie begs a public answer – she wants to know why I’m so fascinated with mob/Mafia related topics and hints that perhaps there’s something nefarious in my background.
Sorry to disappoint, Vickie, but a speeding ticket (well, okay, not just one ticket!) is the only way I’ve broken the law and since I’m not Italian – or male – the Mafia wouldn’t take me anyway even if I did have a bad-ass streak in me.
I’m not sure when I first became intrigued with the Mafia and true crime but I remember when I was a kid, my best friend in the neighborhood was the son of a highway patrolman and Skip’s dad had to serve guard duty during the riots at the Missouri State Prison. He told us all about prison and some of the inmates and I was enthralled since I was growing up in a small town and leading an idyllic life without a care in the world. I couldn’t fathom that people like that existed.
When Tammy was born I was reading In Cold Blood and I took it to the hospital with me to finish. I was fascinated with that senseless crime that took place in Garden City, KS and made famous by Truman Capote’s unforgettable book. It’s obvious I passed along the mob gene to Tammy since she shares this interest too.
My favorite movie ever is “The Godfather” – part 1, naturally – and I even have it on DVD. We watched it recently and I’m amazed at how 37 years after it was made, it’s still the best movie ever.
As to why I like this stuff, I haven’t really analyzed it but I do know I’m fascinated with not only their organizational skills but also the dichotomy between their illegal gains and their murders mixed with fierce loyalty to each other (most of the time) and their love of family whom they try to compartmentalize away from their “business”.
And let’s face it – truth is always stranger than fiction – and a lot more fun to read!
What fascinates me about the Mafia is that, even though they are cold-blooded killers, they have rules and respect. They are completely committed to their families and they have a code of honor. As for my fascination with True Crime, I think it’s about analyzing the killer and what goes through his/her mind. There’s something so foreign about how they think that I’m always looking for a window into their mind.
Or maybe I’m just sick and twisted. Could be a combination of both. I blame my mother.
Oh sure – blame your poor defenseless mother. After I struggled to raise you and turn you into a sarcastic member of the Grammar Police and gave you every good gene I had (the legs) and a curfew and EVERYTHING. You have the audacity to blame me!
Yeah – I thought so!
And who did you call when you smashed your hands in the garage door? I mean after you called Steve!
And the Oscar goes to…Anne Brown for “My Kids Don’t Appreciate Me.”
Thank you so very much. I want to thank the Academy and all those who voted for me but especially my ungrateful children who have provided me with numerable opportunities to earn this title. It was a tough job but someone had to do it and I am pleased to have passed my maternal genes along to someone who is just as tough!
However, I am forced to admit that they gave me even more opportunities to wear my Proud Mom look – so where’s the Oscar for that?