It was examinations (in school) that drove my wits away, as all emergencies do. Being expected to measure up was paralysing. It was never that Mother wanted me to beat my classmates in grades, what she wanted was for me to have my answers right. It was unclouded perfection I was up against.

I stopped going to Kingdom Hall, the church, when I was 11 years old, so I was very young. They don't celebrate birthdays, you get no Christmas, so it's a very difficult religion for children to get into. And they do a lot of finger-pointing among the Jehovah's Witnesses.

I've realized that everything is about relationships. I've witnessed that ultimately you can't take what you don't give because there is a master bookkeeper out there who keeps accounts balanced. This fundamental link between man, plants, and the earth has been documented since the dawn of civilization.

When rain comes finally, washing away a low sky of muddy ocher, we who could not control the phenomenon are pressed into relief. The near-occult feeling: The face of being witness to the end of the world gives way to tangible things. Even if the succeeding sensations are not common, they are at least not mysterious.

“To you, death does not simply end life. It steals away the sunsets you'll never see, the children you'll never hold, the wife you'll never love. It's frightening to almost lose your future, and it's heartbreaking to witness death snuff out other people's tomorrows.”

“Indeed, so far from being humorous, the male American is the most abnormally serious creature who ever existed.... It is only fair to admit that he can exaggerate, but even his exaggeration has a rational basis. It is not founded on wit or fancy; it does not spring from any poetic imagination....”

“This event is going to be unlike anything that has ever been done in Nashville. Plan on being surprised by a truly sophisticated fashion show experience. Guests will witness not only the hottest Spring styles for men and women, but will be a part of an event that will showcase Nashville's progression into a truly cosmopolitan city to live, work and play.”

“When a prosecutor walks into court and says we've been investigating this case for two and a half years, grand jury investigation for nine months, and we have 51 witnesses, you know what that means -- they have a circumstantial evidence case, and I suggest it's a weak circumstantial evidence case.”

“This investigation was conducted on inaccurate information. All the witnesses were obtained after [the Inc. offices were] searched. The government was on a mission to make this case they started and flubbed — to rescue this failed investigation that started with false statements. You will hear me use [the word speculation] over and over again in my summation.”

... and isn't the world a treasure in itself? A spectacle glittering every single day, without a concern if anyone's watching or not. It simply goes on, elegantly, letting nature have its way. We only need to open our eyes to witness the biggest masterpiece ever created, the ticket is already in your hand.