The fact you can do that and know that just raises my esteem towards you. Seriously, Rip, I am just one hat with a bell on it away from being the fool. My confidence waxes and wanes with the moon. The only reason I say something clever from time to time is that I write so damn much, statistically I am bound rewrite some Shakespeare.

But fair enough. I only know you from your writing. If you're even a tenth of who I think you are, well, I'd still say nice things about you. But, I hear you. I, too, would be weary of any praise. I reckon sometime my family genuinely meant something nice, if only it wasn't followed by some not so nice, and so I never learned to take it much. Nor give it well. I have been practicing telling lots of folks, even strangers, I love them, and I find a reason why.

Maybe it's just enough to say I like you. I like that you make me think of some alternatives, you compliment me when are thinking runs in parallel, and sometimes you remind me to slow my rant. I will be really cross if you start doing less. :)