Probably many people’s vision of “thinking something through” is of this nature: you do precisely what you want to do — if you can. - Richard Ford

there’s no right way to plan a life and no right way to live one — only plenty of wrong ways.

How amazingly far normalcy extends; how you can keep it in sight as if you were on a raft sliding out to sea, the stitch of land growing smaller and smaller. Or in a balloon swept up on a column of prairie air, the ground widening and flattening, growing less and less distinct below you. You notice it, or you don't notice it. But you're already too far away and all is lost.

Most things don't stay the way they are very long.