Just A Thought – Let Mary live before she gets life

OK, I give. I wasn?t going to use this week?s column to discuss the Mary Winkler developments but I guess with all the phone calls, discussions and news crews around town, I will.

This has become a really dirty game of ?Who?s seen Waldo? and I just have to say, ?Who hasn?t seen Mary??

My guess is that she?s probably been seen everywhere by everyone. I bet she?s been at Hasting?s checking out a video, Subway getting a low-calorie sandwich, Wal-Mart buying groceries, and the mall spending her paycheck on clothes. While doing those things, she probably hasn?t bothered anyone.

I?ve seen Mary and it wasn?t at New York Grill drinking and smoking. It was while working out. Well, now there are two cats out of the bag. Yes, I work out and apparently so does Mary.

After a brief discussion with one of my friends, a discussion that I?m going to relay to you in a minute because of it?s humor, I think she?s not bothering anyone.

About the discussion between me and my friend: We believe that if we were facing life in prison we wouldn?t be working out ? we would be pigging out. This would be our daily, three times a day, regimen until court:

For breakfast, lunch and dinner: A brief stop at one of the local fast food restaurants followed by a trip to an ice cream place for dessert. If there was any room left, a stop for a donut before going home and sacking out in front of the TV just to make sure we didn?t burn off any of the calories.

The absolutely last place you would find either of us would be working out in an effort to keep in shape or get in shape.

Our logic: If we were facing life in prison, we wouldn?t want to get there in the best shape of our lives. We would want to go looking as awful as possible. And with any luck, as unattractive as possible. Jail isn?t kind to pretty people.

I might not be able to understand the working out, but I do understand the drinking. If I was out on bail for the murder of my husband, or anyone for that matter, I think I would want a drink too. What the heck, I think I would probably have two or three shots of something.

Here?s my thought: She?s here and nothing can be done about it. While she is, maybe we should allow her a little life before she gets life.

Also, along with this, I feel Warren County has had enough bad publicity in the national news lately. My thought is that the next time anyone sees Mary out doing anything that looks like something others do every day, let it go. If you don?t feel like saying hi, then just walk on by.

Although it didn?t violate her bail to sit quietly and drink a beer in one of our local restaurants, some of the people watching the newscasts could possibly be one of the 12 jurors who decide her case. Once again, she didn?t bother anyone but she might have hurt herself.

I?ve also heard the discussions that she won?t go to jail at all even if she is guilty. I guess that?s right if she is innocent but not if she is guilty.

I know we are all a little discouraged by the Pamela Rogers case. We all know Pamela got slapped on the wrist initially because she is a pretty woman but the cases are different. Mary is accused of shooting her sleeping husband and not sleeping with a teenage boy.

Lisa Hobbs is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].