Many people, for many reasons, feel rootless - but orphans and abandoned or abused children have particular cause.
From Christina Baker Kline
The most surprising thing, honestly, is that so few Americans know about the orphan trains. I was also surprised at the resilience and fortitude of the riders I met, their pragmatism and grace. I don't know whether this is a Midwestern trait or simply a human one.
You have to try to take what life throws at you with grace and equanimity.
The twists and turns of your life can be so unexpected, and that's a good thing to learn.
For a few years, skeins of yarn piled up in baskets around the house. There weren't enough humans in my mother's orbit to wear all the scarves and sweaters and hats she knitted. And then, as suddenly as she started, she lost interest, leaving needles still entwined in half-finished fragments.
I don't believe in karma.
My parents are a bedrock. And I have three complex, strong, and funny sisters who inspire and sustain me.
Most people are remarkably resilient. Even those who have been through war or great loss often find reservoirs of strength. But the legacy of trauma is a heavy burden to bear.
As a novelist, I have always been interested in how people come to terms with difficult, life-altering events.
I don't think that trauma is an illusion; there is no question in my mind that circumstances beyond our control can shape and define us. But ultimately, we make choices about letting ourselves be defined by our pasts.
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