I have come to believe that all families are dysfuctional
to a degree. After watching August Osage County which I
loved, I realized that the Meryl Streep character was almost
exactly like my mother brought to life again. She spent
her life spoiling for a fight with her children and her
sisters. She antagonized both her daughters to the degree
that my sister escaped at sixteen and I left home at
seventeen. After my Dad died, she became addicted to pills
and threatened to disinherit us when we intervened. Her
father, my grandfather, sexually abused my cousins. We
escaped because we wouldn't have tolerated it.

I have no doubt that Mama loved us in her warped way. Her
whole life was wrapped up in my father. My sister and I
have often marveled at the fact because we would give up
our lives for our children.

Unlike Martin, I loved the movie and plan to see it again.
All the characters were good actors. I think the movie
got bad reviews because Oklahomans are not understood.
The harsh climate and the wind may have something to do
with it but it breeds strong men and women that do what
is necessary even when it is painful. Tracy Letts, the
author is an Oklahoman and he understands us.