Alter Ego

Since my first introduction to Maxine sometime in the mid 80's, she reminded of my mother. Cranky, unapologetic, cigarette dangling from her lip, she made me laugh as she spouted epithets and opinions while her faithful dog was never far from her side. Later on, just like Mom, she became a nonsmoker, but she remained just as acerbic, never mincing a single word. Thank you, John Wagner, for creating Maxine. She allows each of us a self-indulgent, laughable look at what we hope we don't, but often inevitably do, become. Our mothers.