I wasn't ready for this, but then I probably never would be, and this year, like so much else, wouldn't wait. I had no choice but to get out of my car, with everyone watching and begin in earnest, alone. So I did

“I don't know," I said. "What else did you do for your first eighteen years?""Li…”

“Well," I said finally, knowing he was waiting, "you make me laugh."He nodded. "…”

“My point is,' Jamie continued, 'not everything's perfect, especially at the beg…”

“It was like when you ripped a piece of paper into two: no matter how you tried,…”