“He seems sad, and it occurs to me that we have a certain kind of loneliness in common.” — Kenny Porpora Loneliness Copy Share Image
“She’s been talking nonstop since five a.m.,” my brother says. “Like, I’m not exaggerating—nonstop. I even timed her at one point.” — Kenny Porpora Nonstop Copy Share Image
“We met in a school elevator, and he could tell from the way I spoke that we had some sadness in common.” — Kenny Porpora Comfort Copy Share Image
“His adopted dad is white and Jewish, giving him full access to black jokes, white jokes, and Jewish jokes. “You’re so lucky,”… — Kenny Porpora Judaism Copy Share Image
“It’s not even 8:00 a.m., and I’ve already had my trombone stolen. I fucking hate seventh grade.” — Kenny Porpora Middle school Copy Share Image
“I remember watching those balloons as a little boy, each fall, wondering if someday I, too, would be nothing but a balloon… — Kenny Porpora Balloons Copy Share Image
“I look around. Everybody else is wearing boxer shorts. Everybody. Checkered ones and striped ones and cool skater brands like Joe Boxer… — Kenny Porpora Shorts Copy Share Image
“I ask for tons of notebooks for my birthday, the ones with college ruled lines, and I carry them with me, pretend… — Kenny Porpora Depression Copy Share Image
“And the dreams I’ve kept for so long to myself, the ones I lose myself in when I work my new job—the… — Kenny Porpora Birthday Copy Share Image
“As she looks through the photos, she says quietly, “We had a lot of happy times together. I hope you remember some… — Kenny Porpora Better day Copy Share Image
“She asks to see my diploma, holds it in her hands and smiles, reads it out loud before handing it back to… — Kenny Porpora Accomplishment Copy Share Image
“For a long time, I felt like I was destined to inherit a certain kind of life and so I wouldn’t let… — Kenny Porpora Authors Copy Share Image
“I overhear kids in my classes talking about frat parties— Omigod Michelle so lost her phone at the club! —and they sound… — Kenny Porpora Frat parties Copy Share Image
“I’d like them to appreciate the power of the individual—and I don’t mean me; I mean the power each person has to… — Kenny Porpora Chances Copy Share Image
“My father tells his stories. I’ve heard them before. I know his pauses. His inflections. But I let him tell them over… — Kenny Porpora Father Copy Share Image
“Now and then I see a balloon caught in the power lines, holding on, waving, flapping softly in the evening air, and… — Kenny Porpora Balloon Copy Share Image
“It’s funny… when you’re young you spend your life trying to convince yourself you’re not like your parents. And then, every now… — Kenny Porpora Art of life Copy Share Image
“I think about failure a lot lately. Staring out of city bus windows at the passing streetlights. Scanning bar codes. Making chitchat… — Kenny Porpora Failure Copy Share Image
“I look away from her. “I have felt like an old man my whole life. And they get to have fun and… — Kenny Porpora Addiction Copy Share Image
“To the members of my family who are no longer with us, I’d like to say I’m sorry. There is a quote… — Kenny Porpora Family Copy Share Image
“Sometimes I think, Was she thinking about me when she was drinking? Did any of them ever think about me when they… — Kenny Porpora Addiction Copy Share Image
“She likes to write messages on balloons and send them to the sky. She takes out a black Magic Marker and she… — Kenny Porpora Balloons Copy Share Image
