At my mom's 45th birthday, my dad stood up, called her "expired," and handed her divorce papers in front of all five of us. That night, he left her for a younger woman. A year later, we got a call from his sister — and finally saw what that decision had cost him. My father gave my mother divorce papers for her 45th birthday. All five of us kids were packed around the table that day. Me, Nora, who was 19, Ben, who was 17, Lucy, 15, and Owen, 13. Dad sat at the end in his usual spot, wearing a button-down he had ironed himself because he liked to say your appearance was a form of self-respect. He cared a lot about appearances. More than I think I understood back then. All five of us kids were packed around the table that day. My father had always wanted a big family. All his friends had multiple kids, and he wanted the same "big, happy family" lifestyle. Mom gave him exactly what he wanted. She gave up sleep, time, money, jobs she might have loved, a body that h...
For decades, she graced the silver screen with timeless beauty and captivating charm. Her life seemed like a dream: fame, success, and love with one of the biggest icons in film history. But behind the glamour was a woman struggling to hold onto herself. Today, this 88-year-old woman credits her faith for keeping her grounded through the heartbreaks that defined her life. A star among the greats Her acting career spanned genres and generations. With performances that blended wit and vulnerability, she earned three Oscar nominations, three Golden Globe nominations (winning one), and a Saturn Award. In 1983, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a tribute to a career that still inspires. Audiences loved her for films like Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, The Last of Sheila, Heaven Can Wait, and Deathtrap. Her versatility — whether in drama, mystery, or comedy — made her one of Hollywood’s brightest talents. But her real story began off-camera, in a ...