Your Life Doesn't Mean What You Have

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.

My Father Died In My Arms. That's Tumult. That's Everything Exploding.

I Don't Have A Very Logical And Orderly Mind.

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

If Sportswriting Teaches You Anything, And There Is Much Truth To It As Well As Plenty Of Lies, It Is That For Your Life To Be Worth Anything You Must Sooner Or Later Face The Possibility Of Terrible, Searing Regret. Though You Must Also Manage To Avoid It Or Your Life Will Be Ruined.