“I now have anti-bodies to assholes after working for so many.”

“I know I'm not going to be in your head all the time. But once you know me, I'll be forever in your heart.”

“The moment you realize that life will hurt more than your death. While existing, we're forced to become acquainted with sadness. There's no antibiotic for the ridding of distress, and no alleviatio...”

“(On getting married at 19) We told ourselves we had forever and we never looked back. The problem was that we never really looked ahead.”

“She lives like tomorrow isn't coming and yesterday never happened.”

“What good is it if they miss your face but not your mind?”

“I finally know the difference between pleasing and loving, obeying and respecting. It has taken me so many years to be okay with being different, and with being this alive, this intense. (xxvi)”

“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.”

“Birthdays could be such a bummer when you were older than the country you lived in.”

“My dearest Pudding pie" I read aloud."Yes, my little turnip?" "Hilarious," I muttered. "If you ever call me anything of the sort again we shall have words.”

“work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it.”

“Happiness [is] only real when shared”

“That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable.”