Letting go of life's joys with grace.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Susan Ager

Whenever I write about politics or religion, I get mail that praises my genius and mail that reminds me I'm an idiot.

Or a fool.

Or worse.

But whenever I write about life _ the quiet drama of our days, the tiny choices, _ I get mail that takes no sides.

It simply shares.

That mail I like best. It tells me that despite our passionate intellectual disagreements, we're all in this together, as if in a small lifeboat on unpredictable seas. From each other we must take lessons and encouragement.