I’m sure there are many interpretations of the Passover song “Dayenu.” Last night, I heard it as a contemplation of the quality of gratitude.

I’ve felt at home since the first day I awoke in our steam plant, even though that morning last summer it was full of boxes and crates. It’s taken us a few months to get unpacked. Now that books are on shelves and art on walls, I don’t just feel at home. We are home.

A reader’s attention and empathy are gifts. I strive as I write to be exact, clear and engaging. It takes work, as Ralph Ellison knew.

Knowing your audience makes it a little easier.

I’d been hoping to leave without tears.

My Granddaddy was a practical man.

The right word can heal. The wrong one can destroy.

My book’s cover features a quote by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu: ``Forgiveness is not for sissies.’’