I became an Ayn Rand Devotee at the age of 14. I am presently 86.That's a very long time. During that time, I have read, discussed and argued about her, her literature, all of her writings, recorded lectures and the lectures of those she allowed to represent her. In all that time, I have concluded that she had the sharpest mind, and the greatest ability to inspire others with her writings and lectures. But, when it came to one-on-one personal relationships, she was as nutty as a health food candy bar.

You all know the story of Rand and Brandon. If you don't, there's plenty of literature about it or includes it. The tendency of her followers can be illustrated by the Brandon incident in which Brandon was condemned and Rand was given a pass even though they were both committing the same act (s). My point is that while I greatly admire A.R. I refuse to deify her in the way I see many Randoids do. She was a great woman and I hope that some day she'll get the recognition she deserves. But, like most humans, she was neither a saint nor a devil.

Let me insert a little of the Herbie philosophy at this point. As I look back upon my life, I realize that the most important things to me, personally, had less to do with exterior matters, politics, in particular, than interior things, music, art, and my hobby of quantum physics.But standing above all that in a major way, is love.OK, now e gets corny. But I remember love as the most powerful thing in my life, wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren. But not just the people, but the acts of love by them to me and me to them. I saw none of that in Rand. Perhaps someone can illuminate for me that which I missed and am not seeing. It is right and proper to admire A.R. I do. But as a person, she was just..... a person.