Sorta Like a Rock Star

“I like you, Amber Appleton, just as much as I like dogs. And I like dogs better than people.”

“Maybe sometimes—on special occasions—every so often, it is best to capture a different moment, maybe, when the present moment is not the right moment for you. It is sometimes nice to think that more moments are always coming. Always. Like the moments when you come to visit me.”

“Father Chee?”
“Yes, Amber?”
“Why are dogs more humane than humans?”
“I don’t know.”

“I think you are exactly as you should be. You are perfect for this moment.”

“Welcome once again to the Wednesday Afternoon Battle between Hope and Pessimism. To my left we have the indomitably hopeful one, the girl of unyielding optimism, the teen of merriment, the fan favorite, the girl you wished were your granddaughter or maybe even your great-granddaughter, the only minor who visits the home on a non-holiday, the undisputed Wednesday Afternoon Champion, Amber the Princess of Hope Apple-Tooooooooooooooon!”

“You’re a good kid, Amber. And you are going to be a great woman someday.”
“Why does everyone say that to me? Like I’m a bottle of wine or something.”

“Pride is not pretty,” Donna says.
“I’m not a pretty girl,” I say

“You’re gorgeous,” Donna says, “you shine, only you don’t know it yet.”

“I see something in you that I like very much, Amber. You’re not like most people. You are going to do something very special with your life. You’re going to do something very special tonight, because it’s what you were born to do.”

Whenever someone looks at me like they want to stomp my face in, I now look the person in the eyes, smile really huge, wave, and say, “Hope you’re havin’ a great day!” It’s pretty wild, because doing this really works. If you don’t believe me, try it yourself. Even the meanest-looking people will get this really stunned look on their faces, but then the smile blooms, and they usually wave back and say something nice like “God bless you!” or “Same to you!” It’s a pretty cool trick, and maybe even a pretty killer way of life, if you are a crazy spiritual ho like me. True? True.