Do you think if people knew how crazy you really were, no one would ever talk to you?

Girls are weird, and I don't mean that offensively. I just can't put it any other way.

I don't even remember the season. I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere.

"I hate you." My sister said it different than she said it to my dad. She meant it with me.She really did. "I love you," was all I could say in return. "You're a freak, you know that? Everyone says so. They always have." "I'm trying not to be.” Then, I turned around and walked to my room and closed my door and put my head under my pillow and let the quiet put things where they are supposed to be.

Welcome to the island of misfit toys.

I look at the field, and I think about the boy who just made the touchdown. I think that these are the glory days for that boy, and this moment will just be another story someday because all the people who make touchdowns and home runs will become somebody's dad. And when his children look at his yearbook photograph, they will think that their dad was rugged and handsome and looked a lot happier than they are. I just hope I remember to tell my kids that they are as happy as I look in my old photographs. And I hope that they believe me.

I don't know if it's better to be close with your daughter or make sure that she has a better life than you do.