And that almost everyone was struggling to wake up, to be loved, and not feel so afraid all the time. That's what the cars, degrees, booze, and drugs were about.

Anne Lamott’s priest friend Tom, how to get through: "Left foot, right foot, left foot, breathe," he said. "Right foot, left foot, right foot, breathe." Salon April 25, 2003

[S]he believed that the Buddhists were right–that if you want, you will suffer; if you love, you will grieve. (68)

My heart was broken and my head was just barely inhabitable

I've seen prayers answered. But often, in my experiences, if you get what you pray for, you've really shortchanged yourself.

I go to church every Sunday, which is like going to the gas station once a week and really, really filling up.

You just have to keep getting out of your own way so that whatever it is that wants to be written can use you to write it.