I'm not sure how to reply to this, because I'm actually very insecure about my own intelligence. I know that intelligent people would probably not speak to me the way they do if they thought I was not, and they should know, yes? And I have been told I am smart. Or is it clever? But I don't do any of those things you say; I don't do the things you like about my writing, though I love reading what you have to say. I don't feel very good at reading, either, and my brain skims over important things like they're all just ladders to the next piece of plot or character development.

And I am so very sensitive about that that I find it difficult to talk about, even though I think this post is beautiful and I loved reading it and love you more for writing it and for allowing me the privilege of your company and watching you work in conversation. And you don't make me feel stupid, but sometimes I feel so very certain that any illusion I had of being smart at all is a sham.