One time I saw a tiny Joshua tree sapling growing not too far from the old tree. I wanted to dig it up and replant it near our house. I told Mom that I would protect it from the wind and water it every day so that it could grow nice and tall and straight. Mom frowned at me. "You'd be destroying what makes it special," she said. "It's the Joshua tree's struggle that gives it its beauty.

I feel like I failed," I said. "Don't beat yourself up," Jim said. "She might not have turned out like you planned, but that don't mean she turned out wrong.

No child is born a delinquent. They only became that way if nobody loved them when they were kids. Unloved children grow up to be serial murderers or alcoholics.

It was good work, the kind of work that let you sleep soundly at night and, when you awoke, look forward to the day.

It's so much of what art and creativity are, being able to confront your own demons. If you can do that, you can get through just about everything.

Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten, you'll still have your stars.

I never had any question that my parents loved me. I had a real sense of self confidence.