Overheard in my car this morning

My mom: Did you hear about that teacher?

Me: What teacher?

My mom: The one who they found in the river.

Me: Where? in Wilkes-Barre?

My mom: No, in New York.

Me: Oh. No, I try not to read too much about local crime that they put on the national news. I think it creates a climate of fear that isn't good for people.

My mom: You're right. It's terrible to hear about. It's because those news channels have all that time to fill up. So this teacher disappeared in August and they kept seeing her different places, then they saw her floating in the river so they sent a tugboat out to rescue her. She's still alive.

Me: Sad. She is probably mentally ill and needed care. Like I said, I try not to read too much about crime stories like that. It's not really related to anything around here, and I don't like wallowing in the creepy stuff.

My mom: Yes, you're right. Oh, my heart goes out to that baby.

Me: (smacking self on head) What baby?

My mom: That Anthony baby.

Me: Huh?

My mom: You know, they think the mother did something to the 3 yr old daughter ---

Me: I don't think I want to hear any more about that.

My mom: It's somewhere in the south. North Carolina maybe?

Me: (SIGH.)

I love her dearly, but she's driving me crazy.