Mary Crosby
Mary Crosby has shown us all that she's not just Bing's "little girl" (PEOPLE, Dec. 8). She is a talented woman whose ability goes further than her last name.
Mark Masterson
Ottawa
After reading again how tired Mary Crosby is of being referred to as Bing's daughter, I can only ask why she doesn't venture out with her "married" name? Obvious! It's too bad these star-born children don't appreciate the doors that are opened to them at birth.
Roberta Campbell
Blue Springs, Mo.
Judy Chicago
First I was ticked that Judy Chicago had the bad sense to open herself up for such a silly photo, giving a perfect slant to a bitchy article—especially after five years of such hard work unearthing and communicating the honor due women in history.
Second, I was angry at your brash tone, focusing on the negative as opposed to the overwhelming positive aspects of The Dinner Party. I worked on The Dinner Party and I lecture about it, but there are times when I wish to retreat into my home (as did Emily Dickinson, honored in the exhibition) and say to hell with the world. Sometimes I just don't want to deal with a society bent on devouring the hype that makes PEOPLE popular.
Dorothy K. Goodwill
Cleveland
Surrogate Mother
During the long years I waited to adopt my child I always said, "No one understands what I'm going through." But Elizabeth Kane understands exactly. This woman gives new meaning to the word compassion. In this overcommercialized holiday season, she shows us the true meaning of love and giving.
Sabina Seidel
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Nobody could help the shame and grief I experienced when I gave up my baby boy for adoption 10 years ago when I was a junior in high school. After reading Elizabeth Kane's account of being a surrogate mother, I cried from a deep well of sadness. But with the passing of my tears I relinquished the horrifying shame I have been feeling. I realize now that he has been where he belongs, and "my part is over." Thank you, Elizabeth. I can now go on with the challenge of mothering my two dear little children without feeling I cheated them of a big brother.
Rebekah Vickers Swope
Valparaiso, Ind.
I can't understand how Elizabeth Kane could willingly conceive another man's child and then sell it back to him and his wife. What's next? I'll trade you my baby for yours? Why didn't the parents adopt? And what of the little boy? Doesn't he have any rights? How will he feel when he finds out how and why he was conceived, given up and sold?
Carla Anonuevo
Fountain Valley, Calif.
Andrew Levine
What a delight to read your article on backwards talker Andrew Levine. In my childhood, skeptical family and friends were surprised at my ability to translate into SDRAWKCAB. Would Dr. Levine consider forming SDRAWKCAB SUOMYNONA? I'd just love to go to a meeting and say "IH, YM EMAN SI LORAC DNA I KLAT SDRAWKCAB."
Carol Ray
Fredericton, N.Bruns.
I hope that whatever Professor Levine has isn't serious, because I seem to have a form of it. I can write forward or backward simultaneously with each hand, "mirror" write and draw, and had read both your head and subhead before I realized they were backward.
Jo Mapes
Chicago
Football Teacher Carlucci
Jo Ann Carlucci commented that women don't understand football because they've never played it. She needs to study a little more, because I belong to the Oklahoma City Dolls, three-year national champs of women's pro football. We all just got back from California, where we made an ABC-TV movie about women's football.
Laurel A. Johnson
Defensive End No. 69
Bethany, Okla.
John Denver
Having just seen at first hand the photographs by John Denver, I can say that they are indeed beautiful works of art.
Nancy Azzam
Minneapolis
John Denver is always saying during his concerts that he loves "to share" his music with his fans. I think he needs to share a little more with his family. No wonder he feels "fragmented."
Judy Burgess
Mohawk, Tenn.
Hotel Oloffson
In a recent issue of PEOPLE (Dec. 1), Mr. Al Seitz, owner of the Oloffson Hotel in Haiti, lashes out at me as the biggest "pain in the ass" ever to stay in his hotel, saying I complained about my room, the restaurants and the island. His strong attack not only made me very sad but also very confused.
Seven years ago I visited the hotel for five days. I went with a friend who was also a good friend of the Seitzes. She made our reservations. They were wonderful. Mr. Seitz says I complained about all the island restaurants when he took me to dinner. But, as a busy hotel proprietor, Mr. Seitz never offered nor did he ever take me to dinner. Further, I had friends on the island with whom I spent most of my time.
When I left the hotel I thanked Mr. Seitz and expressed the desire to return to Haiti one day in the future. In the course of my work, I have traveled all over the world, had all kinds of accommodations, food and transportation. I never complain, nor has anyone complained about me. Why, seven years after my visit, Mr. Seitz launches his attack is a mystery to me, but a painful mystery.
Barbara Walters
ABC News
New York City
Seitz replies: "I remember taking Barbara and her party to dinner at Habitation LeClerc and La Lanterne, two of the island's best restaurants. Since she forgot both of these occasions, she evidently was not very impressed."
—ED.
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