For Lou Ann, life itself was a life-threatening enterprise.

Our childhood had passed over into history overnight. The transition was unnoticed by anyone but ourselves.

Memories do not always soften with time; some grow edges like knives.

He had senile dementia and liked to go outside naked, but he could still do two things perfectly: win at checkers and write out prescriptions.

I've about decided that's the main thing that separates happy people from the other people: the feeling that you're a practical item, with a use, like a sweater or a socket wrench.

You can’t replace people you love with other people…But you can trust that you’re not going to run out of people to love.

Let me claim that Africa and I kept company for a while and then parted ways as if we were both party to relations with a failed outcome. Or say I was afflicted with Africa like a bout of a rare disease from which I have not managed a full recovery.