In a message dated 8/9/2006 4:09:30 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Dear Professors: How dare I, a mere graduate in English Lit with only a BA, but I'll answer the question anyway. I assumed from Huck Finn hat his mom was deceased, or else why would he be living with the Widow? Camy The next time you think to apologize for your degree, think about Sam Clemens, who went to 4 schools in his boyhood days, but dropped out in about 1850 at age 14. But what an education the man got! In his old age, an honorary degree from Oxford. So, never ever apologize for your level of formal education. In some ways everyone is ignorant. David H Fears