The painful things seemed like knots on a beautiful necklace, necessary for keeping the beads in place.

I pray I die before they day comes when I do not know if my sons are infants or grandfathers.

I love many kinds of music: world music, jazz, classical, pop.

It was one of those perfect fall days when the air is cool enough to wake you up but the sun is also kissing your face.

Whatever your relationship is to your sacred tradition in the West, you have some relationship to the Bible if only through the names of the characters.

As a journalist I'm comfortable doing library research, and I did a lot! I had a fellowship at Radcliff for a year which gave me access to the Harvard system.

If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully. Stories about food show a strong connection. Wistful silences demonstrate unfinished business. The more a daughter knows about the details of her mother's life - without flinching or whining - the stronger the daughter.