Someone let out a giggle, and that started it—we all began to laugh. All of us except Steve, who was still searching the wall in vain for this mysterious “other painting.”

We do have to accept that while we cannot control most of this world, we can choose our response to it.

There are so many things I want to tell her about what it means to be a decent, kind human.

My son is back. The one I understand. The one who wants to be around me, wants me to know about everything going on in his life. I know he might not walk through the door tomorrow, but I’ll spend as much time with him as I can, today.

Even with all of her maturity, sophistication and intolerance for everything you do, this same girl still needs her mom.