I feel like I've been blessed. I see the world through stories.

And so he was reading the story as if it were a spell and the words of it, spoken aloud, could make magic happen.

The world is dark, and light is precious. Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story.

Life is hard. Life is beautiful. Life is difficult. Life is wonderful.

Everything when I was a kid was illustrated.

I always go to the Agriculture Building, where they make apple cider popsicles for a dollar.

Take this squirrel, for instance. Ulysses. Do I believe he can type poetry? Sure, I do believe it. There is much more beauty in the world if I believe such a thing is possible.