Rural Fact
Question: How do you define the term "urban legend"
and what is your understanding of it?
AnswerMan: A meaningless question. While the term
suggests a curb-and-gutter point of origin for a tall tale containing some
element of truth, many, if not most, "urban legends" have neither
roots in a metropolitan area nor any real basis for existence. AnswerMan would
define today's "urban legend" as any even slightly plausible story
placed in an e-mail message and sent to everyone in the creator's address book.
The message usually begins with something like "I don't usually send these
things, but..." and ends with "Please forward this message to everyone
you know." So, by all means, heed that plea and become part of a new
legend, as you help clog the e-mail servers of the world.
Marriage Schmarriage!
Q: Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the Kennedy who left his
wife with whom he had twin boys, and then wanted to have that marriage annulled
so that he could be remarried to another woman in the Catholic Church?
A: A question of denial. Nope, AnswerMan finds that
you are a branch too high on the Kennedy Political Dynasty Tree. That would be
Bobby's boy, Joe, of which you speak. U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, whose
grandfather and late uncle were also "Joes," decided to go for the
annulment two years after dumping his wife, Sheila Rauch Kennedy, and marrying
his secretary. Seems that, unless the Catholic Church declares the marriage,
which produced twin sons (including Joseph P. III) as "invalid," he is
unable to partake of such practices as communion and confession. Hmmm. AnswerMan
suspects that Joe might be able to cope without communion, but confession is an
absolute necessity in his line of work.
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