Life's greatest comfort is being able to look over your shoulder and see people worse off, waiting in line behind you.

The weather today is partly angry, leading to resignation and ultimatums.

I think standardization is really the first step to something being commodified.

With my eyes closed, I ask if she knows how this will all turn out. "Long-term or short-term?" she asks. Both. "Long-term," she says, "we're all going to die. Then our bodies will rot. No surprise there. Short-term, we're going to live happily ever after." Really? "Really," she says. "So don't sweat it.

If you knew that your life was merely a phase or short, short segment of your entire existence, how would you live? Knowing nothing 'real' was at risk, what would you do? You'd live a gigantic, bold, fun, dazzling life. You know you would. That's what the ghosts want us to do - all the exciting things they no longer can.

Anything pretty,' Claire will tell you, 'it's only for sale because no one wants it.

My inventory of people who can save me is down to just me.