The sounds of silence are a dim recollection now, like mystery, privacy and paying attention to one thing — or one person — at a time.

"I never presume to give advice on writing. I think the best way to learn to write is to read booksand stories by bood writers. It's a hard thing to preach about. As Thelonious Monk once said abouthis field, 'Talking about music is like dancing about architecture."

Maureen Dowd