They never discussed it, but both came to understand it as a promise: he would always make sure there was a place for her. She would always be able to say, Someone is coming. I am not alone.

I would never tell myself, you have to write 20 pages today or something. But I do try to show up. Read what I wrote, fix things.

If you told people you were moving to Ohio, they wouldn't congratulate you. They'd say "OH WHY would you move there?" as if that was something that happened to you and you had to deal with.

There is something about Midwest in general, that has kind of an underdog quality.

I think this is something that is naturally built in in people, a need for attention and a need to be special and we are always trying to find a balance.

You don't feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to smile. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.

I'd like to think of my self as not melancholic at all, I think I'm a pretty cheerful person, really.