As far as we know, we are the only species on the planet who have been given the gift-or curse, perhaps-of awareness about our own mortality. Everything here eventually dies; we're just the lucky ones who get to think about this fact every day.

Liz, you must be very polite with yourself when you are learning something new.

Who will ever kiss this encyclopedia of a head?

I completely respect the ways people are bound in the lives that they have, whether it's because of forces outside of their control or choices that they've made that they want to honor with their own responsibilities and obligations - taking care of people around them or being a part of a community, or their work.

One of these poems I wrote after having been here only a month. The other, I wrote this morning. In the space between the two poems, I have found acres of grace

Look - I understand that an unexamined life is not worth living, but do you think I could someday have an unexamined lunch?

we must take care of our families wherever we find them.