“I was stuck back on “you can’t have two maids of honor” and therefore fighting back hyperventilation at the same time flashing pictures filled my head of a commando-style wedding; Hawk in black cargos, me in a white flak jacket festooned with lace. The picture of me carrying a bouquet of flowers and Hawk carrying an automatic weapon. The picture of me admiring Hawk’s huge-ass hunting knife. The picture of Hawk carrying me out of the reception in a fireman’s hold while bullets flew and flames caused by Molotov cocktails danced on the dance floor.”

“Regular women carry pictures of their babies, their husbands, their summer houses. Fat ladies carry pictures of themselves at their skinniest.”

“On a long journey to Glen-StoneIsailed into its shadethere before me she proudly shonemy decision was already made.A lass who bore the light of the townher fur of ivory threadhow she danced is stuck in my crownand back to this glen my boat led.Twenty some seasons have since passedsince her eyes and mine both metthrough lands unnamed and wildly vastmy blade slaying every threatWolf, hawk, fox, and snakecan't stand in my waymy body is weak and it may break,but not today.Living in blackness wrought with frightmy steel shattered facing the foesdusks and dawns darker than nightmy fallen companions in rowsLife spilled past me staining the groundmylimbs growing ever so coldabove villians let out a cackiling soundtelling me i'd never grow oldOne dance and one mouse played in my mindcalling me back from the doomthe courage to carry on i did findto raise me out of my tombWolf, hawk, fox, and snakecan't stand in my waymy body is weak and it may breakthough not todayBattered and bruised i stood to my pawsraised what little i ownedpredators growled caring not for my causeof the mouse that shone light off Glen-stoneWolf, hawk, fox, and snakecan't tand in my waymy body is weak and it may breakthough not today. -The Ballad Of The Ivory Lass”

“Fill your head with the right pictures of me. Fill your head with the ones you'd hang on the wall.”

“No longer do I sing, dance or draw pictures; but God has granted me the gift to do them all in my stories.”

“The final picture in the album was of Aunt Lovey and Uncle Stash, their black-and-white wedding photo. I hated that their picture came last, because it felt like they were saying goodbye.”