"Nothing is sinful to us outisde of ourselves,
Whatver appears, whatever does not appear, we are beautiful or sinful in ourselves only.
(O Mother--O Sisters dear!
If we are lost, no victor else has destroy's us,
It is by ourselves we go down to eternal night.)"

--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1900

For my parents -- Barbara and Reg Brack.

The first time Richard hit me I saw stars in front of my eyes just like they do in cartoons.