My mom says I am smart, but that I am not clever.

I am sure I am not smart enough to know what she means – but I have thought about her description often over the years.

My thinking is not elegant. I don't come to conclusions with deft

– deductive

– Sherlock Holms-ian clarity.

I have go over and under and around and through ideas

And then I need to feel the idea in practice.

I am a reader – I enjoy learning – but I only learn lessons after feeling the consequences of screwing something up or the pleasure of bringing something beautiful into the world.