Everyone I know is looking for solace, hope and a tasty snack.

Soon enough it will be me struggling (valiantly?) to walk - lugging my stuff around. How are we all so brave as to take step after step? Day after day? How are we so optimistic, so careful not to trip and yet do trip, and then get up and say O.K. Why do I feel so sorry for everyone and so proud?

My dream is to walk around the world. A smallish backpack, all essentials neatly in place. A camera. A notebook. A traveling paint set. A hat. Good shoes. A nice pleated (green?) skirt for the occasional seaside hotel afternoon dance.

My short attention span has allowed me a life of diversity in work and place.

I tell you these stories because these things happen to everyone. It's not about being starched or polished or cute or polite. It's about having ears that stick out, about breaking yet another glass. It's about seeing something for the first time and making a million mistakes and not ever getting completely discouraged.

I said, 'Well, how much space do I have?' And they said, 'Well, you know, it's the Internet.'

The most inspiring objects are books. I have about 5,000 volumes in my home library. It's an unending source of visuals and ideas.