My father moved through theys of we, singing each new leaf out of each tree, (and every child was sure that spring danced when she heard my father sing).

Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to.

Anyone who tries to write a memoir needs to keep in mind that what's interesting to you isn't necessarily interesting to a reader.

I think what you notice most when you haven’t been home in a while is how much the trees have grown around your memories.

What is it about childhood that never lets you go, even when you're so wrecked it's hard to believe you ever were a child?

Being here in Detroit, our public education in this city is - it's shocking. And the oversight of it and the oversight of the teachers and the funding is nonexistent, and the priority that's put on it is so low.

Love is the only rational act.