Books became her friends, and there was one for every mood.

Those were the Rommely women: Mary, the mother, Evy, Sissy, and Katie, her daughters, and Francie, who would grow up to be a Rommely woman even though her name was Nolan. They were all slender, frail creatures with wondering eyes and soft fluttery voices. But they were made out of thin invisible steel.

Look at everything as though you are seeing it for the first time.

Some people do crossword puzzles. I do books.

And you must tell the child the legends I told you - as my mother told them to me and her mother to her. You must tell the fairy tales of the old country. You must tell of those not of the earth who live forever in the hearts of the people.

Oh time...time, pass so that I forget! Oh time, Great Healer, pass over me and let me forget.

Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.