The Story of Arthur Truluv (Mason, #1)

by Elizabeth Berg

Everybody has thoughts that shame them. You can’t control them coming in. But you don’t have to let them all out. That’s the crux of it. That’s what made for civilization, what was left of it, anyway.

aging means the abandonment of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance.

“Look for the helpers,” he advised. “If you look for the helpers, you’ll know that there’s hope.”

People who don’t feel cared for are not always comfortable being cared for.

“What girls do to each other is beyond description. No Chinese torture comes close.”

no one even sees you when you get old except for people who knew you when you were young.”

“See, that’s what I do. I am the audience. I am the witness. I am the great appreciator, that’s what I do and that’s all I want to do. I worked for a lot of years. I did a lot of things for a lot of years. Now, well, here I am in the rocking chair, and I don’t mind it, Lucille. I don’t feel useless. I feel lucky.”