I have often wished I could be braver than I am; wished that I could take big chances, risk everything.

Paul Woetzel came to my house in the woods in the mid 70's to corral a swarm of bees. He came armed with nothing more than a corncob pipe. And when he'd finished the work he calmly walked into the woods and dealt with the errant bees that had crawled up his pant legs. It was, I thought, the height of bravery. John Wayne without the swagger.

Fact is, this is as brave as anyone should aspire to be. Even just a little bit braver (no matches for the pipe, or a disconcern for errant bees) would qualify as stupid.