The whole world had changed. Only the fairy tales remained the same. "And they lived happily ever after.

Take pride in your pain; you are stronger than those who have none

And here in this room, I re-experience the memories again and again it is how wisdom comes and how we shape our future.

I was a sidelines child: never class president, never team captain, never the one with the most valentines in my box.

Because of fear, they made shelter and found food and grew things. For the same reason, weapons were stored, waiting.

The writer after all is only half the book, the other half is the reader.

Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often - there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable - so painless. It's what they've chosen.