Just as I had long suspected, a person didn't really need math for anything anyway. Maybe some people did. Some limited people.

But then, look at me. My brain is incorrectly formed, and I'm shaped like a tube. Plus, I'm an alcoholic, a "survivor" of childhood sexual abuse, was raised in a cult and have no education. So, really, if you think about it, the only thing that separates me from the guy with the stinky foot and no teeth is a book deal and some cologne.

My subconscious does the writing; I don't have control over that.

I think people tend to see the bigger point, which is maybe not fitting in and feeling like you didn't have the childhood that you expected you would have, or that you felt lonely or struggled with drugs and alcohol or just that you were able to achieve your dreams.

Applause is a constant thing in AA. It's how we buy drinks for each other.

I always tried to learn Greek, but all I got out of it was, "poulaki mou." ["My little chicken."]

To me, these people were as exotic as animals in a zoo. I'd never seen anything like them. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to be one of them or simply live among them taking notes and photographs.