Although the frankfurter originated in Frankfurt, Germany, we have long since made it our own, a twin pillar of democracy along with Mom's apple pie. In fact, now that Mom's apple pie comes frozen and baked by somebody who isn't Mom, the hot dog stands alone. What it symbolizes remains pure, even if what it contains does not.

Never let anything go out into the world that you don't understand.

The sound of the bat is the music of spring training.

Eloquence invites us to bring some part of ourselves to the transaction.

Be wary of security as a goal. It may often look like life's best prize. Usually it's not.

Fighting clutter is like fighting weeds-the writer is always slightly behind.

As a writer I try to operate within a framework of Christian principles, and the words that are important to me are religious words: witness, pilgrimage, intention.