I never had that feeling that I had to carry the weight of somebody's ignorance around with me. And that was true for racists who wanted to use the 'n' word when talking about me or about my people, or the stupidity of people who really wanted to belittle other folks because they weren't pretty or they weren't rich or they weren't clever.

There's something beautiful about the fact that Obama was not just elected, but elected decisively across racial, and socio-economic and cultural groups and that we all celebrated in his win.

Whining is just unbecoming.

I work very hard, and I play very hard. I'm grateful for life. And I live it - I believe life loves the liver of it. I live it.

I answer the heroic question, 'Death, where is thy sting?' with 'It is in my heart and mind and memories.

You are the sum total of everything you've seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot- it's all right there.

Modesty is a learned affectation. And as soon as life slams the modest person against the wall, that modesty drops.