When I was a kid, my mother's parenting style teetered between benign neglect and intense bouts of violence.

I've been thinking about disowning some of my genes lately. I have a few healthy, happy, long-living optimists in my family tree - most of them fans of Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy, a major champion of positive thinking. But I've got plenty of ancestors who played out more tortured hands.

I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.

I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.