Loss teaches you to figure things out as they come along.

I think that nothing teaches you more about life than death and dying.

My father, for his part, was not a man to begrudge anyone a divergent opinion; he'd have been fine if I had written some articles disagreeing with his policies, or even given interviews, as long as I was respectful and civil.

I did what most writers do when something happens that's overwhelming, fascinating, moving, all of that. I didn't know what else to do about it except write about it.

Just think: people decided one day that a day should be set aside for motherhood and fatherhood. What a great concept that is.

I don't think it's an accident who our parents are; I believe we choose them. So maybe I chose my parents in order to effect change.

Even if the Bush Administration had flung open the gates to stem-cell research years ago, we would not be at the point of offering treatment today. Christopher Reeve would still have been taken from us. But we would be closer.