As every so-called creative spirit soon learns, the rest of the world doesn't particularly give a damn.

The world is harsh and inconsiderate, and you can rely only on your family.

Every moment I have ever experienced as a child is as important as every moment I am experiencing now, or will experience ever. I guess what I'm saying is that not everybody should have children.

After all, this is America, and you can swap out the parts of yourself that don't work. You can rebuild yourself piece by piece.

In contravention of my belief that any life ending in death is essentially pointless, I needed my friends to open up that plastic bag and take one last look at me. Someone had to remember me, if only for a few more minutes in the vast silent waiting room of time.

The simple trill of her laugh has not declined over the years; if anything it's been buffeted by her endless sorrows and disappointments.