Quotes from Joan Bauer

If you stick that anger behind you, one day you're going to turn around and find it's gone.

All people are alike when they sleep." Jeremiah Lopper paraphrasing Aristotle (p. 146)

You know what we learned from living under the rule of Communism?" "No." "We learned to get mad.

And I suddenly understand what to do when bad things come. You don't hide, you don't look away; you get right up on them, you take the reins and you ride.

Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to be who you are.

Mother, this is a confidential business discussion. I hardly think that your driver can add anything noteworthy." I could kick you in the stomach, I thought, moving toward the couch. I could drag you across Texas by your pointy ears.

Revenge of the Giant Grill Man.

Let me tell you something about sad days. They're just part of life, but the best thing you can do on the happy days or on the sad ones is to do what you do best with everything you've got.

I'll tell you something about tough things. They just about kill you, but if you decide to keep working at them, you'll find the way through. On the Food Network they have these shows where cooks have to put a meal together with all these weird ingredients. That's a lot like my life-dealing with things you wouldn't think ever go together. But a good cook can make the best meal out of the craziest combinations.

She studied my face. I rubbed my eyes. "I'm fine," I assured her. That was five months ago. I wasn't fine then and I'm not fine now. (Thwonk)

I nearly tripped over Stieglitz, my dog, a forty-pound black-and-white keeshond (pronounced caze-hawnd) furball. He lunged at me with unbridled glee because the mere sight of my presence always made his day. It's important to have a dog. Dogs love unconditionally. (Thwonk)

I watched that plant in the office every day. Watered it; misted it. I loved thinking about it like G.T. said, but part of me was worried the tree surgery wouldn't take. Something would go wrong and then I"d be stuck with a metaphor that couldn't go the distance.

You're going to fall down in this life—everybody dies. But you be the kind of person who doesn't stay down for long. Get back on your feet and keep going no matter what.

I think hope is just about the best thing a person can have

It's not fair, but sometimes a kid has to act older than their age. You just pray hard to know what to do.

Hope-to cherish a desire with expectation of fulfillment.

The attendant walked closer. "Where'd you come from, soldier?" Tree tried to think of a recent war and coudn't, so he said, "Canada." The attendant looked surprised. "Canada?" "It was a secret mission," Grandpa said. "It saved the Republic," Wild Man whispered.

He shouted out like a drill sergeant, " Men, are we having fun yet? "No sir!" the vets cried out. " Men , are we going to fight like soldiers or fools?" The vets looked at one another, grinned. "Like fools, sir!" Everyone laughed. Luger dropped his cup again, but this time he kicked it hard across the room. " I can still kick! And everyone in rehab worked a little harder.

WELCOME HOME, FOLKS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT

Wes held my hand in front of Dad, who played it real easy, like I had boys around all the time. JoAnn said I was lucky, and she should know. Her father specialized in fear, being a life insurance salesman, and could bring a boy to his knees.

What in the world are we going to do with you?' Mrs. Ritter asked. I could think of a few things. Take it easy on me. Teach me different. Care about me just a little. So many times that year I wanted to shout,'It's not like I'm waking up in the morning and trying to mess up. I just don't get it!

Are you some kind of foot fetish?

a man who was, as we say in the restaurant business, one taco short of a combo platter.

She stamped the book and gave it to me. "You bring it back in three weeks." I held it over my heart. Mrs. Worth smiled. "That's where a book should be carried.