Things You Did. Things You Never Did.

When You Are Sixteen You Do Not Know What Your Parents Know, Or Much Of What They Understand, And Less Of What's In Their Hearts. This Can Save You From Becoming An Adult Too Early, Save Your Life From Becoming Only Theirs Lived Over Again--which Is A Loss. But To Shield Yourself--as I Didn't Do--seems To Be An Even Greater Error, Since What's Lost Is The Truth Of Your Parents' Life And What You Should Think About It, And Beyond That, How You Should Estimate The World You Are About To Live In.

Find What Causes A Commotion In Your Heart. Find A Way To Write About That

Writing Is The Only Thing I've Ever Done With Persistence, Except For Being Married.

And I Think That In Myself (and Perhaps Evident In What I Write) Fear Of Loss And The Corresponding Instinct To Protect Myself Against Loss Are Potent Forces.

Happiness For Me Is Getting To Write About The Most Important Things I Know.