When you're going into an employment environment that looks pretty scary, it is easy to lose your moral compass, your decency, your sense of civility and your sense of community.

But I have a good life. I enjoy what I do. I am married to work.

I am a white guy in America with an education, albeit high school, but a pretty good one. Another guy from a different demographic or different ethnicity in America can look at me and say, "You take a lot for granted." Well... okay. I just live in a white male American reality, where I hear you but I don't know if I necessarily read you.

I don't know how much you follow current events. For some, there's not enough time to keep up on what's happening; for others, the news is too depressing, and peering too deeply fills one with boiling frustration all too quickly.

I always found the Chicago audience to be a smart, fast-moving, violent and cheerful lot, and it's always good to be back.

It is you who makes me see what I really am.

My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.