I wouldn’t worry about it, the Irish were born for leaving. Otherwise the rest of the world would have no pubs. Just needs half of us to stay so that the other half can get sentimental about the ones that went. All the Irish need to survive is a phone, a Guinness, and a sheet music to Danny Boy.

George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

“But there’s this space between us, always this space between us.”

You missed Pudge Fisk’s home run? To have a drink with some lady you never met? Yeah, but you should’ve seen her. She was a stunner. I don’t care if Helen of Troy walks in the room, that’s game six! Oh, my god, and who are these fucking friends of yours, they let you get away with that? They had to. What did you say to them? I slid my ticket across the table and I said I’m sorry guys, I gotta see about a girl.

I’m Kevin McCallister, 671 Lincoln Boulevard. Do you need the phone number?

We’ve always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible. And we count these moments. These moments when we dare to aim higher, to break barriers, to reach for the stars, to make the unknown known. We count these moments as our proudest achievements. But we lost all that. Or perhaps we’ve just forgotten that we are still pioneers. And we’ve barely begun. And that our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, because our destiny lies above us.

Sadie Sink for System Magazine.