c-span: on the back of your book, alice hoffman says, "anna quindlen is a national treasure." did you pick that? >> guest: no, i didn't. i mean, i thought it was terribly nice of alice hoffman to say it, but i've taken a lot of ribbing about being a national treasure. and, i... c-span: who is she? >> guest: she's a novelist who writes just wonderful, wonderful books. c-span: why have you taken a lot of ribbing? >> guest: well, you know, my husband will say to me: "oh, how's the national treasure this morning?" things like that. it makes you feel sort of foolish. c-span: new york magazine says you're the laureate of real life. >> guest: yeah? c-span: you like that one? >> guest: i mean, it's sort of strange to have people see you in that way, particularly if you've spent your whole life being the reporter who sees things written like that about other people and either gives them credence or dismisses them. i continue to be very uncomfortable on the wrong side of the notebook. c-span: your own newspaper is quoted as saying, "anna quindlen's column has been a twice weekly argumen