Maira Kalman

What of the bliss of finding the right color or the right word?

What of sheer joy?

What is wrong with that?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

After reading the obituaries, I go for a walk, which is a salvation.

Here is Robert Walser, who wrote one of my favorite books called The Walk, which I highly suggest you read.

Walking and not thinking is the favorite state.

An empty brain, which I call my best brain, is the only way to have any ideas, to allow surprises to appear.

Solvitur ambulando, they thought of this before I did, long ago.

Walking solves all problems without trying.

Walking leads to the pleasure of sitting, perhaps on a bus going down Fifth Avenue, and looking at the entire world around you with a great sense of well-being.

One day, at a farmer's market, I saw a woman carrying an absolutely gigantic cabbage.

When I asked to photograph her, she looked really annoyed.

And for some reason, I was so delighted by her crankiness, it seemed so authentic and true.

Let's just say what we feel.

It made me think of all the things women hold literally and metaphorically.

Balloons and grudges.

And heavy loads and cabbages.

And stupendous love and courage.