“I decided if you're lucky enough to be alive, you should use each birt...” — Mary Steenburgen Quote

I decided if you're lucky enough to be alive, you should use each birthday to celebrate what your life is about.

I'd already made the decision before I'd even read it-just because it was John Sayles. Then when I read it, the themes were actually themes that have been a big part of my life.

My heritage, many generations back, is Dutch and it was fun to go where nobody asked me how to pronounce my name.

I have never had any success in planning my life, really.

It's very easy to approach a character like that - a so-called strong woman who overcomes the odds - and give a one-note performance, playing that strength alone. Strength is only one thing a person has.

I married two weeks after my 18th birthday, far too young, and by the time I was 23 I was a single mother of three small children, Sean, Daniel and Victoria, living in a prefab house.

I love a card. You know, cards? At birthdays? I collect them.

When you're an expert in a subject, you can retain new factoids on your favorite topic easily. This only works for the subjects you're truly passionate about, though. Baseball fans can reel off stats for their favorite players, then space out on their own birthday.

Our kids will never have to remember things, because it's all in pictures. Want to remember your fourth birthday? There'll be video of it on your phone.