If you love that mother in your home, get rid of those babes spread out on the coffee table. I’ve had it with them. They’re not good for either soul — male or female! Why do we contemplate airbrushed, digitally altered, Botox laden, breast-enhanced illusions?

‘It’s been ten years, now,” the strong voice said on the phone. Mari Justin is a breast cancer survivor. She, along with hundreds of thousands of breast cancer veterans have faced the demons and now crusade alongside those who are fresh on the battlefield.

Words struggled to exit her throat: “They let us see him. I sat there, behind the curtains and sobbed and hugged my son’s leg. I pleaded, Oh God, Oh God! How can I live without him?” Ten years ago, this month, this East Valley mother buried her only son.

It’s very rare that I’m motivated to write a follow up column, but the dangers generated by alcohol’s sacred position in our society demands more attention. Nothing is better to use as comparison than the uproar about the private ownership of guns and the dangers of both.

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. Which road do I take? She asked. Where do you want to go? was his response. I don’t know, Alice answered. Then, said the cat, it doesn’t matter.”

She’s young, tall-model-slender, beautiful and with a song bird voice. I’ll call her Annie. And, today she sits in jail, serving a lengthy term for her history with drugs. Like so many others, her road to trouble started with alcohol.

As we consider New Year’s resolutions, I gladly share a story of Violet Jerome, a family friend who knew the secrets of keeping the Christmas Spirit alive, year round. Come to think of it, with our nation trapped in moral chaos, her story needs to be shared across the land.

Of course only law enforcement and military should be allowed the possession of assault rifles. And, of course, alcohol should never be served to drivers. Never. And, illegal drugs should be kept away from everyone. Period. Anything that kills should be hidden from the mentally ill, the angry, the bullies, the too-young-to-know-any-better.

Thriving families remain the hope of America. And when one does well, it’s a very good thing to put it out there as a paradigm of choice. Many are looking for better ways.

‘Tis the season in which family problems become magnified. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, thank your lucky heritage. Mixed up in our holiday cheer is nearly always increased strain in relationships. It’s eerie. It begins to build soon after Halloween, kind of like a dust devil that stirs up emotional junk.

We’re battle worn. The past two years of campaigns were no less hostile than Hurricane Sandy. Election pundits tell us we’re a nation divided and stuck in this place. All the while, the critical mass of the big government crowd has taken control. We’ve been told this day would come, and it has.

Election issues are like an unending drum beat: Family, jobs and national security. There’s nothing’s really new in the world of politics except personalities and here we are again. I was reminded of the same ‘ole, when I reviewed my Election Day column from six years ago. It’s worth sharing, again. Take note of what folks stressed over, even then:

They are our neighbors. They live to the north of us in rural Arizona. Some are Native Americans, many still live in primitive conditions; other folks dwell in small communities, eking out livelihoods. Various are generational Arizonans, whose pioneer forefathers settled this state.

In the latest labor report, 368,000 more Americans have stopped looking for work, artificially skewing the unemployment stats down. The recent report of 8.1 percent tricks the brain of the casual thinker. Try thinking about this: 12.5 million of your fellow Americans are out of work (Labor Dept.). Perhaps you are one of them or your child. See: www.money.cnn.com (2012 August jobs report).

Dependency a form of enslavement

Eight school days ago, vehicles filled with kids and backpacks, stretched for blocks beyond Zaharis, a pulsating east Mesa elementary school. It nestles in the shadows of Red Mountain, camouflaged in lush sagebrush and cacti.

You’ve seen ‘em. Those low-cut jeans the girls wear, which barely cover the pubic place. There’s a tiny zipper and then the usual grommet-like closure, which draws the eye right to the spot where polite boys never look.

I just want to see how far I can go,” says a 15-year-old sophomore at Hamilton High School in Chandler. Hannah Virga contemplates an Olympic medal in the 2016 shooting competition.

So-called comedian Bill Maher is the poster boy for the brutish. He reminds me of a series of classmates during my school years. They were trash-talking bullies, encouraged by peers who would laugh, but always with unease.

So-called comedian Bill Maher is the poster boy for the brutish. He reminds me of a series of classmates during my school years. They were trash-talking bullies, encouraged by peers who would laugh, but always with unease.

He’s the guy you took the time to make babies with. He’s the fellow your kids call dad. If you’re lucky, you still call him darling and in today’s world, that ain’t bad.

He’s the guy you took the time to make babies with. He’s the fellow your kids call dad. If you’re lucky, you still call him darling and in today’s world, that ain’t bad.

This is a significant weekend, one that memorializes those who have gone before. Hopefully we feel every, reverent emotion for those who have died in our service and those who developed this country through their sweat and sorrows; not only our dedicated military, but our forefathers who religiously worked to support their families and others who needed a hand up.

OK, so not all mothers are perfect. But, the persistent folklore that mothers-in-law are to be shunned is a tragic waste of usable nurturing. In truth, it’s one of society’s most foolish myths.

OK, so not all mothers are perfect. But, the persistent folklore that mothers-in-law are to be shunned is a tragic waste of usable nurturing. In truth, it’s one of society’s most foolish myths.

Whoop-de-do. Mega-stars Brad and Angelina are engaged and their six “kids are thrilled.” But, the couple apparently is not in any hurry to marry. No date set. No idea when.

Whoop-de-do. Mega-stars Brad and Angelina are engaged and their six “kids are thrilled.” But, the couple apparently is not in any hurry to marry. No date set. No idea when.

Everything that makes up a presidential candidate should be fair game in politics (except their families). But, those calling for civility in society are often the very ones using forked tongues. Hate talk is with us for good, I suppose, however, where there’s a down side, there’s an up. And, the up part of dragging different faiths through the slop is: The attacks tend to unite diverse churches. Overall, God worshipers can relate to one another.

Well folks, the campaign has fully begun, launched by female drama; one woman publicly attacking another. However, it didn’t turn out quite the way Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen apparently hoped. Some say she got her talking orders directly from the White House when she attacked Ann Romney Wednesday night on CNN. But my guess is she didn’t need directions, she seemed comfortable in her strident remarks.

Well folks, the campaign has fully begun, launched by female drama; one woman publicly attacking another. However, it didn’t turn out quite the way Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen apparently hoped. Some say she got her talking orders directly from the White House when she attacked Ann Romney Wednesday night on CNN. But my guess is she didn’t need directions, she seemed comfortable in her strident remarks.

A friend on the other side of my opinions alerted me recently that she believes the “far right (wherever that is) ... is on its last legs.” They’re “extremely out of touch.” She told me, “They cling to 1950’s views and standards, and the world has moved on from that.” She delivered that news with a delicate touch.

A friend on the other side of my opinions alerted me recently that she believes the “far right (wherever that is) ... is on its last legs.” They’re “extremely out of touch.” She told me, “They cling to 1950’s views and standards, and the world has moved on from that.” She delivered that news with a delicate touch.

I’ve always known it: Readers quite often say it better than — well, the usual columnists. In an unusual move, I’ve dedicated this space to a letter written by Diana Smith, the mother of nine children, grandmother of seven children. Smith, a long time East Valley resident is doing what she can to awaken women to frightening games being played in the political arena. She warns women their emotions are manipulated, while their freedoms to choose for themselves are at high risk. Read on:

First of all, women have always been a victim of the male sex drive. That's the first reason society should pay for my birth control.

So we've had a month to recover from 2011, which for many was a year to forget. As an annual ritual, we might defrag politics and business from our lives in order to re-prioritize our life's purpose. Do ourselves a favor.

I'm a strong 2nd Amendment advocate, absolutely. But, every right and every law must be driven by common sense. The idea of opening up college campuses to guns cannot be reconciled with wisdom. Just ask those who will be forced to manage the consequences.

I'm a strong 2nd Amendment advocate, absolutely. But, every right and every law must be driven by common sense. The idea of opening up college campuses to guns cannot be reconciled with wisdom. Just ask those who will be forced to manage the consequences.

I'm a strong 2nd Amendment advocate, absolutely. But, every right and every law must be driven by common sense. The idea of opening up college campuses to guns cannot be reconciled with wisdom. Just ask those who will be forced to manage the consequences.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio now spends much of his time deflecting arrows or, let's be honest, ignoring them. His opponents have openly warned they're coming after him, they're taking him down (dailykos.com).

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio now spends much of his time deflecting arrows or, let's be honest, ignoring them. His opponents have openly warned they're coming after him, they're taking him down (dailykos.com).

With our southern border under siege, expect our legislature to give life to a state military force. In the next legislative session, Jan. 8, Sen. Sylvia Allen will introduce a bill to organize a state guard to assist with border security.

With our southern border under siege, expect our legislature to give life to a state military force. In the next legislative session, Jan. 8, Sen. Sylvia Allen will introduce a bill to organize a state guard to assist with border security.

The problem with life is it goes forward, without a reverse mechanism. Too bad. I wish we could start all over again. I know now what I'd major in - in college. I'd know which guy I'd keep and which one I'd pass on by.

Okay, I don’t live in Legislative District 18, but that doesn’t mean I’m not deeply affected by the possible recall of our Senate president and the contemptible, outsider intrusion into our state. Don’t kid yourself, District 18 voters: There are those who want to force a major shift in Arizona’s political base and away from policies of citizen protection. And, they are using you.

America’s youth are moving to the front lines. A few respectable, cognitive ones are showing up at the occupation sit-ins and tea parties, just a tickle of what’s to come from their generation. However, many Millennials are not quite ready to launch their futures. One can hope mentors and parents are doing all they can to empower them to deal with America’s mistakes.

Great minds expose the issues in our current economic and cultural war. Problem is, most of us are not paying attention. Distractions are consuming. A current one is watching Cher’s son, Chaz Bono, on “Dancing With the Stars.” On that note, I’m wondering if he wishes he’d just stayed home. It’s painful to watch, yet la-la-land really is a magnet. And there I digressed, or did I?

Linda Turley-Hansen

Linda Turley-Hansen

Linda Turley-Hansen

Linda Turley-Hansen