Maybe the trying is the thing. Maybe it doesn't get better than that. Maybe you never quite get there. And maybe that's okay.

The good guys had to operate on a higher level than the killers--just for society to keep track of who was who.

What about my rights? What about a person's privacy? Did all that just go to hell after 9/11?

But that's the hardest part of healing.' What?' Realizing there's no one to hate.

My throat tightened, but I held back the tears and reminded myself that withdrawing from a woman is no different than kicking a drug; you feel shaky and you want it, but eventually the need passes, and you feel restored.

When people can do something simple to avoid conflict--say, hit a button or unlock a latch--they'll generally do it.

Maybe the trying is the thing. Maybe it doesn't get better than that. Maybe you never quite get there. And maybe that's okay.