with all your f-a-c-u-l-t-i-e-s intact

So some of you know, J.D Salinger is basically my hero in life. He passed away on the 27th of January, at the age of 91. I don't love him because of the cliche of Catcher in the Rye and the angsty rebellious teen that everyone loves to hate - I love him because in everything he's written, he expresses just the most beautiful honesty and frank openness in his characters. Sure, they all have issues, sure, they can sound a bit pretentious at times - but they're so very clever and imperfect and strange.

I love how he crafted an entire family of characters that are just so neurotic and possibly insane but so irresistibly endearing. I wanted to be a part of the Glass family - I still pretend that I am. Here's to you, Mr. Salinger, a bouquet of early-blooming parentheses (((((())))))

My last guest had evidently let himself out of the apartment.

Only his empty glass, and his cigar end in the pewter ashtray, indicated that he had ever existed.

I still rather think his cigar end should have been forwarded on to Seymour, the usual run of wedding gifts being what it is.

Just the cigar, in a small,nice box.

Possibly with a blank sheet of paper enclosed, by way of explanation.

- from Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters