“I keep drawing the trees, the rocks, the river, I'm still learning how to see them; I'm still discovering how to render their forms. I will spend a lifetime doing that. Maybe someday I'll get it right.”

“It doesn't matter how many times I've been called a name, it still hurts - and it still always comes as such a surprise that I never know how to respond. Or maybe I do, but I'm afraid.”

“Pretendin'. I'm still pretendin'.For the rest of my life, I'll be pretendin'.How ya doing? they ask,and I say,Okay, man,even though I'm not.I'm not okayand I'm never gonna be okay again.I just don't get it, how they don't see myinsides hangin' out, when it's all I can doto put these feelings into wordsbecause words don't meana thing.—Joe”

“I'm right there, swimming the river of hardships but I know how to swim...”

“I'm always admitting I'm wrong.That's how I eventually get to right.”

“I feel I'm doing what I should've done a lifetime ago.For a little while I'm not afraid. Maybe it's because I'm doing the right thing at last. Maybe it's because I've done a rash thing and don't want to look the coward to you.”