in the family I grew up in, being called boring was like being called an ax murderer.

In your standard-issue family, of which few remain, but on which our expectations are still based, there are parents and there are children. The way you know which are which, aside from certain size and age differences and despite any behavior similarities, is that the parents are the bossy ones.

if you are a stepparent, rush right out and get yourself a dog. Because it's very nice to have someone in the house that loves you.

Preparing for the worst is an activity I have taken up since I turned thirty-five, and the worst actually began to happen.

For me, having it all - if one wants to define it at all - is the magical time when what you want and what you have match up.

One quarter of what you buy will turn out to be mistakes.

One cannot overstate the potential for hysteria on a movie set. Everyone always acts as if making the movie is as important as eradicating malaria.