I putter. I nurse old grudges. I fold origami while nursing old grudges. I think about the past. I wonder if there’s any grudges I should start.

Theres something about most phobias where theres a tiny, tiny corner where you think this really actually could happen.

My parents were extremely reluctant. When my father was clearly dying, my mother refused to acknowledge it.

I think when you really love something, you notice the minutiae.

A friend of mine gave me a very good piece of advice, which is if you don't think your kids are going to want it, don't take it.

It's almost selfishness, taking care of your mental health. You can't just not do it.

You would open a drawer, which my father had jammed full of newspapers, and the bottom would drop out. There were buttons and screws and nails and bottle caps and jar lids – the drawer of jar lids! Why? Because they're made of metal and maybe there'll be another war and we'll need the metal. A friend of mine – I quote him in the book – says, 'You have found the source of the river eBay.'