Bette Howland > Quotes

“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin―real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business; time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life could begin. At last it had dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”
― Bette Howland, W-3

“My grandmother had died the night before; the funeral was tomorrow. I was in New York when my mother called with the news. “No one expects you. You don't need to come.” Hard to tell what this meant; after all these years I still don't speak her language. “You have your memories,” she said. I do? I thought, worried. I couldn't think of any memories. All I could think of were a lot of No Trespassing signs. Private. Keep Out. The woods were papered with them. The past is not such a good neighbor. It knocks when it wants, but it won't let you in. What good are memories?”
― Bette Howland, Blue in Chicago: And Other Stories

“In other words, life out here goes on - industriously. And it's not supposed to. It's supposed to stop, to hold still for us. Everyone knows that. Isn't that the proper definition of life in the country?”
― Bette Howland, Blue in Chicago

“If we're not lost—what are we doing here?”
― Bette Howland, Blue in Chicago: And Other Stories