Jason never knew a day without war. They raged since before he was born, and had become a silent backdrop to his everyday life. As long as it stayed … - Michael Scott Gallegos

My wife is talking to me this morning without realizing that her words go into my ears and drop directly to my toes. I hear their thud as they land and maybe a small wisp of air as they pass my brain. ...I need her to understand that the alligator in my head is eating the meaning of her words as my toes become crammed with their debris. She will still yell at me, but I have a good excuse now that I have an alligator residing in my head.

History is a perfect arm-chair coach, but it lacks human sentiment. It’s like imagining living through the Black Death in the Middle Ages. It can’t be done. Essentially history is an emotional iceberg when it comes to human tragedy. We look upon the events of history as folklore, stories of human rights and wrongs, of character and cracks. History is always a good story, but its tragedies or success never hit our current-event nerve.

Today is my last full day at the ocean. ...Perfection is not only for the rich, the supremely talented, the powerful. It is also available to me.