I think I'm far too hopeful and trusting. That's something I got from my mum.

Some of these kids just don't plain know how good they are: how smart and how much they have to say. You can tell them. You can shine that light on them, one human interaction at a time.

Better to be at the bottom of a ladder you want to climb than in the middle of some ladder you don’t, right?

I had grown up as a fan of Studs Terkel. In Chicago he sort of looms large and is mentioned often.

I really believe strongly that kids should be spared the runoff of their parents' lives and problems.

In hospitals I feel palpable comfort. I feel the competence, the expertise, so much education and money, all of the supplies sterile, everything packaged, sealed tight. My fears evaporate when the automatic doors shush open.

He was feeling buoyant, flexible. He wanted to go jogging. He stood. He couldn't go jogging. He called room service and ordered a basket of breads and pastries.