“They think old people are lame. But they're not. They're awesome, & I know exactly why I think so. It's because they've lived entire lifetimes. Loved. Laughed. Surrendered. Stumbled. Weathered, beaten, still they don't crumble, not even as they inch toward death.”

“I am different. And I don't understand exactly how. And I don't understand just why.”

“God is love," she said. "And he respects love, whether it's between a parents, and child, a man and woman, or friends. I don't think he cares about religion one little bit. Live your life right. Love with all your heart. Don't hurt others, and help those in need. That is all you need to know. And don't worry about heaven. If it exists, you'll be welcome.”

“I think if love is real, and headed toward the altar, the sex part-within reason-can wait.”

“I want to know living love. And I don't want to wait for it.”

“I fell into a big pit of black depression. That happens sometimes, when too much shit gets flung at me at once. It's like all the external pressure sucks into me, then tries to escape again. But it can't. So it builds. Throbs. Makes me feel like my skin is anxious to split. I think that feeling is why some people cut - little slices so they don't shred completely.”

“PerfectionI've lived with the pretenseof perfection for seventeenyears. Give my room a cursoryinspection, you'd think I have OCD.But it's only habit and notobsession that keeps it all orderly.Of course, I don't want to givethe impression that it's all up to me.”