MOVE was very supportive through all of that. My wife had a natural childbirth — MOVE coached us through a lot of that.

But I was supported by an incredibly strong crew, many of whom I’ve known for years from having worked in New Zealand. It was a very collaborative effort.

We have two pieces of regrettable news this year. First, Gladys Kaiser, my friend and assistant for twenty-five years, will give up the latter post after the 1993 annual meeting, though she will certainly remain my friend forever. Gladys and I have been a team, and though I knew her retirement was coming, it is still a jolt.

I had help in the form of my friend and former editor Carrie Frye

Could I imagine a world without cursing? Hell, no! Every place I've ever gone, people have had to hold their ears.

There is a dignity associated with people, no matter where the hell they come from — whether they come from Italy or Ireland or Germany or Asia or Africa.

Love of family is something that is renewed in me every time I see them.

The greatest fear I always had in the jobs I was in was that some son of a bitch I never knew or met was going to screw up, and I was going to get blamed for it. [laughs]

Italians are romantics, and my mother taught me the value of beauty and the appreciation for life.

I’ve always found Hail Marys to be a great refuge when you’re facing tough decisions and crises of one kind or another.