There Is No Long Distance Now Quotes

“It was terrible when a single conversation with someone determined your whole future relationship.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Maybe when your mother died young, you became instantly old.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Apparently people commonly died when their loved ones were out of the room. Bathroom break. Quick trip down to the cafeteria for a grilled cheese. It was easier to die if you didn't have family members to worry about at that exact moment.

Easier for the one who was dying, maybe.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Most days weren't clear when you were in them.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“What would it be like to be a turtle inside a shell hit by hailstones?”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Remembering your mistakes more acutely than any minor success. This was the worst. The things that kept you up at night. Tip a waiter that was too small. The words that didn't fit the moment. Words that didn't come till to late. You could kill yourself in increments, punishing your spirit day after day-regret. Guilt. Not the guilt of the little girl who woke in the night embarrassed God was mad at her because she had ticked balls under her shirt, pretending to have breasts. "I even felt sexy." That was sweet, and pure, no crime at all. But the crime of obsessive replay-get rid of it, get rid of it. Who could ever have known that hardest punishments would be the ones you gave yourself?”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“You're just setting yourself up for pain and anguish if you do something like that."

But pain and anguish were everywhere anyway. Might as well put them to good use.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“When allowed to return to the class, your feelings of humility and lonesomeness will render you a much finer student and person.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Amal, you look stunned," said Mrs. Melchor. "Have you been struck by lightning between classes?"

"Yes," she said. "The lightning of ignorance."

Mrs. Melchor raised her eyebrows.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Because Ali did not want to see the deep pools of his kind teacher's eyes and fall into them. He didn't know how to swim.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Or maybe his reclusiveness was a decisive marketing strategy-if you disappear, people are more interested in your work. You become a legend while you're still alive. Crouching behind a stonewall, or the post under a house...people are kneeling down to find you.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Thank you, lives we did not lead, might like to lead, might still lead.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“So many people saying, Let's improve these problems right now! Except extremists. Extremists never wanted things to improve. They just wanted to win. They needed psychiatrists.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“There are many things Rainey does not understand: war, and running with the bulls, for two examples. Why get anywhere near herds of bulls and irritate them in the first place? Why is this popular? She would prefer to be liked by bulls--to meet them in a placid zone and stare at one another.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“The Christian School has a team called the Warriors--WELCOME BACK WARRIORS! shouts the banner over the road.

But the billboard in front of the school says the "Trait for the Week" is peace.

Victor feels alarmed about entering such a facility.

He may come out confused.

He may emerge wearing a black armband, carrying a spear.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Any of them could have a disaster before the school year is over. You could have a disaster an hour from now. Bending over. Something could hit you. People carry guns in glove compartments and lunch boxes. Cars spin out of control in minor drizzle. The more you know, really, the more you have to worry and fret about. It's a miracle anyone can sleep at all.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“You will be sent home. Lula loved being sent home. Her favorite books were there.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“Hair, pulled back or braided. Maybe it was time for a big trim. At certain points things weighed you down.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“She was thinking about prejudice, how it might begin so simply--they come from elsewhere, they don't look the way I do. Why did people want to match? And here they were in the great multicultural city of the first African-American but also half-white U.S. president in history.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now

“The truth was, he had no girlfriend. Everyone was his girlfriend. This was his theory--float and drift. Be in love with everyone you see. The heart is a bucket without a lid. Maybe he had read it in a play. But it seemed to work.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, There Is No Long Distance Now