IT IS NO SECRET THAT PEOPLE FUNCTION MOSTLY FROM TWO BASIC DRIVES, THE AVOIDANCE OF PAIN AND THE ATTAINMENT OF PLEASURE.  ALAN MATHENEY TOLD ME, "MILLIE, I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, ON THE WRONG SIDE, FOR A LONG TIME AND I KNOW WHAT I CAN GET AWAY WITH.  THE SYSTEM IS BEHIND ME."  EVERY TIME AN ABUSER IS NOT MADE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS, HE IS REINFORCED.  ONE EVENING IN LAPORTE, INDIANA, I WAS HIDING LISA AND THE GIRLS IN A FISHING COTTAGE.  WE HAD JUST COME OFF A WEEK ON THE ROAD, FLEEING MATHENEY'S VIOLENCE.  HER ATTORNEY HAD ADVISED HER TO GET OUT OF TOWN.  WE LEFT UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS, LIKE FUGITIVES.  I REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF:  "MY GOD, i CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING IN AMERICA.  IF THE PUBLIC KNEW WHAT THEIR LEGAL SYSTEM IS LIKE, THEY WOULD BE AS ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED AS I AM."

I STILL HAVE TROUBLE IN STANDING AT SPORTING EVENTS AND SINGING ABOUT "THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE."  LISA WAS NOT FREE AND HER BRAVERY IN CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWING THE DICTATES OF THE SYSTEM BOUGHT HER  A  CEMETARY PLOT.

LEARN FROM LISA AND GET OUT EARLY.  AS THE SONG GOES, "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH  IT?"

MILLIE