They had to check me out, make sure everything was on the up and up.

It was one-on-one. He asked me some American history questions, and I had to say the Pledge of Allegiance. At least he didn't ask me to sing.

You give up a lot. I gave up my job, my family, the life I had. But I gained so much, too.

I love being an American. I feel so lucky to live here.

There is such a thing as crazy-mother bonding. . . . It happens when one realizes the other also has had a crazy mother, and it is both painful and pleasurable. There are more crazy mothers than you might think.

The overarching purpose of this renovation was to give ten more years to the school.