not writing is not good but trying to write when you can't is worse.

Long ago, among other lies they were taught that silence was bravery.

the grace is being able to like rock music, symphony music, jazz … anything that contains the original energy of joy.

I went over to see Marina two or three or four times a week. I knew as long as I could see the girl I would be all right…. Soon after, I got a letter from Fay. She and the child were living in a hippie commune in New Mexico. It was a nice place, she said. Marina would be able to breathe there. She enclosed a little drawing the girl had made for me.

I broke that town in half like a wooden match.

I didn't feel that way about it. I had been playing with death for some time. I can't say we were the best of friends but we were well acquainted.

If I have any advice to anybody it's this: take up watercolor painting.