Maira Kalman

And a pink ukulele under a cherry tree.

And from this, a book was formed, Women Holding Things.

What do women hold?

the home and the family and the children and the food, the friendships, the work, the work of the world and the work of being human, the memories and the troubles and the sorrows and the triumphs and the love.

Men do as well, but not quite in the same way.

Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly happy or content, I think I can provide sustenance for legions of human beings.

I can hold the entire world in my arms.

Other times, I can barely cross the room, and I drop my arms, frozen.

There is never an end to holding, and certainly there is often the feeling of never doing enough.

And then there is the next day, and the next day, and one holds on.

I dreamt someone else was stupid for a change.

Such a relief.

Albeit a fleeting one.

A few years ago, I did an illustrated edition of the autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, written by the inimitable Gertrude Stein.

Alice and Gertrude lived a singular life, one of intense creativity and equally intense domesticity, and one could not exist without the other.

That, to me, is the ideal of life, family and work.

My son Alex and I made a short film called My Name is Alice E. Toklas, and for a brief day, I became Alice with two extra noses on my nose.

And dancing down Fifth Avenue was a complete joy.

And as we say in our family, doing almost everything in the strangeness of life, through the sorrows of life, live.

Thank you very much.