Maira Kalman

if something does go wrong, here is my advice... KEEP CALM and CARRY ON.

My dream is to walk around the world. A smallish backpack, all essentials neatly in place. A camera. A notebook. A traveling paint set. A hat. Good shoes. A nice pleated (green?) skirt for the occasional seaside hotel afternoon dance.

Isn't that the only way to curate a life? To live among things that make you gasp with delight?

Soon enough it will be me struggling (valiantly?) to walk - lugging my stuff around. How are we all so brave as to take step after step? Day after day? How are we so optimistic, so careful not to trip and yet do trip, and then get up and say O.K. Why do I feel so sorry for everyone and so proud?

I like Thomas Jefferson, though he intimidated me. I thought he would have been very tough to be around. I don't know if he had such a sense of humor.

Michael Pollan is a champion. In all ways. A man of great integrity, humor, and common sense and kindness.

I like the brooding man - a brooding man with a sense of humor.

Useless and precious objects. Taking up space. Taking up time.

If you go too fast you might not notice everything. On the other hand, you don't want to be late.