“If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.”

“For now he knew what Shalimar knew: If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.”

“If you surrender to the wind you can ride it.”

“Without wiping away the tears, taking a deep breath, or even bending his knees—he leaped. For now he knew what Shalimar knew: If you surrendered to the wind, you could ride it.”

“To get to a place where you could love anything you chose--not to need permission for desire--well now _that_ was freedom.”

“Nothing could be taken for granted. Women who loved you tried to cut your throat, while women who didn't even know your name scrubbed your back. Witches could sound like Katharine Hepburn and your best friend could try to strangle you. Smack in the middle of an orchid there might be a blob of jello and inside a Mickey Mouse doll, a fixed and radiant star.”

“No matter what all your teeth and wet fingers anticipated, there was no accounting for the way that simple joy could shake you.”