I have noticed before that there is a category of acquaintanceship that is not friendship or business or romance, but speculation, fascination.

As soon as you bring up money, I notice, conversation gets sociological, then political, then moral.

In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it.

Your sons weren't made to like you. That's what grandchildren are for.

My characters never die screaming in rage. They attempt to pull themselves back together and go on. And that's basically a conservative view of life.