Think of the beginning of the story of the beginning of everything: Adam (without Eve and without divine guidance) names the animals. Continuing his work, we call stupid people bird-brained, cowardly people chickens, fools turkeys. Are these the best names we have to offer? If we can revise the notion of women coming from a rib, can’t we revise our categorizations of the animals that, draped with barbecue sauce, end up as the ribs on our dinner plates — or for that matter, the KFC in our hands?

Feeding my children is not like feeding myself: it matters more.

I thought for a minute, and then I got heavy, heavy boots.

In my family, Father is the world champion at ending conversations.

Everything is the way it is because everything was the way it was. Sometimes I feel ensnared in this, as if no matter what I do, what will come has already been fixed.

She let out a laugh, and then she put her hand over her mouth, like she was angry at herself for forgetting her sadness.

People hurt each other. That's what people do.