Friday (tomorrow) on Good Morning: Barry, Paul and I talk about women who marry for money. I know where this is heading. Barry and I had met author Donna Spangler, who appeared on the show last Tuesday. She’s married to a dentist 24 years her senior. And I have a feeling this segment is going to springboard from that.
   First: what is the year again? Their age difference is a load of bollocks in 2006.
   Secondly, Donna and Richie are in love. They have been married for eight years. Sure, Richie has money. But the fact Donna has written a book on how to get a rich guy doesn’t mean she’s a gold-digger. Barry and I met them both: Donna is sincere, and Richie is one smart bloke. He doesn’t think with his crotch. And this doesn’t look like one of those last-a-few-years Susan Sangster–Frank Renouf-type marriages.
   My view on Donna’s aim is not so much money, but thinking: ‘On the whole, my chances of finding a rich guy with a decent upbringing who’ll treat me right might be better than my chances of finding a poor guy with a decent upbringing who’ll treat me right.’
   I don’t necessarily mean financially rich. I mean everything from culturally rich to spiritually rich. With that richness comes a self-respect, and with that self-respect comes respect for others.
   That is way better than a nouveau riche who gets a few million in a windfall but lacks the restraint or self-respect to be able to be nice around others. I’m sure we all know a few of those.
   Along with love, Donna sought dignity.
   Richie was raised in a value-filled Jewish household. The fact he and Hef are mates is also irrelevant. If that were the be all and end all, Richie would not have married and would continue par-taying down at the Playboy Mansion.
   I somehow think Barry and I will use the spot to defend any ridicule that might be levelled at Donna, in generally middle-class New Zealand. There was plenty of ridicule in a women’s discussion group that went on right after Donna’s interview on Tuesday. There was more envy in the studio than at an anti-American rally in Tehran. My fellow presenters on Tuesday could not handle the fact that Donna uses femininity, intelligence and strength, using her past to attack her credibility.
   Aucklanders can take some solace in that we breed as much cattiness in Wellington as they are reputed to. ‘Saucer of milk, table for two, meow.’ Posted by Jack Yan, 10:52  permalink

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