“We are here because over billions of years, countless variables fell into place, any of which could have taken another path. We are essentially a beautiful fluke, as are the millions of other species with which we share this planet. Our cells are composed of atoms and dust particles from distant galaxies, and from the billions of living organisms that inhabited this planet before us.”

“Do you ever think if people heard our conversations they'd lock us up?"All the time.”

“Everyone thinks I named my cat Mango because of his orange eyes, but that's not the case. I named him Mango because the sounds of his purrs and his wheezes and his meows are all various shades of yellow-orange.”

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

“He looks up at me with watery eyes and asks, "How can you, of all people, say everything will be all right?"He has a point. I consider my answer. "Well, it's better than saying 'Keep on crying, I'm sure things will just get worse,' right?”

“They say the eyes are the window to the soul.”

“When I was your age I knew nothing about the world or my place in it. I figured I'd be someone's wife, then someone's mother. It never occurred to me to be someone myself.”

“I am not plain, or average or - God forbid - vanilla. I am peanut butter rocky road with multicolored sprinkles, hot fudge and a cherry on top.”

“The trick is that as long as you know who you are and what makes you happy, it doesn't matter how others see you.”

“When people see you're happy doing what you're doing, it sort of takes the power away from them to tease you about it.”

“Whereever you end up;" Jack whispered into my ear."I wish you clear skies. Always”