“New Orleans has to learn to live with water rather than in fear of water, and we need a master plan that shows us how to do this. It’s so critical that we send a signal to everyone in the country that we’re serious about rebuilding New Orleans.”

Venice, Italy, survives 365 days out of every year in water; New Orleans can survive a few days of water if it has to.

Some 70 percent of Americans donated to Katrina victims.

I was treated with a miracle drug, just like Lance Armstrong.

I think the industry finally gets it. They’ve lost the connection with the American public, and they’ve got to rebuild the trust with the American public.

Deep breaths are very helpful at shallow parties.

Often, these people actually start some of the new things they are planning for the future. The problem is that they seldom finish what they start.

You began your journey here as a pup. Now you must find your way back. A new quest, a new start.

I’m widest awake as a writer doing something new, engaged in a process I’m not sure I can finish, generating at the edge of my powers. Some people bungee jump; I write.

Dont start. I saw marcie climb inside your jeep. She needed a ride. I adopted a hands-on-hips pose. What kind of ride? Not that kind of ride, he said slowly.

But to feel that there was feeling denied me, that the very breath of life itself was beyond my reach, that more than anything else hurt, wounded me. I had a new hunger.

Don’t blame me. Tell your mom to move closer. Tell her there’s this new club called civilization and you guys should join.

“Heaven help us,” said the old religion; the new one, from its very lack of that faith, will teach us all the more to help one another.