Katherine Kurtz

» Books on her night stand: I just finished a wonderful novel called Tom Bedlam by George Hagen, and Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond explains how different civilizations develop technology and others do not.

» CDs on repeat: June Carter Cash’s Press On, the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E-minor.

» Restaurant of the hour: Main Line Deli-Cafe in Narberth. It’s got great homemade soups and wonderful Italian sandwiches.

» Personal hero: Dorothy Day. She used her religious convictions to try to help the world take better care of the less privileged.

» Two things she knows for sure: I’m also a psychotherapist, so I know it’s not easy being a human being. For some people, it’s harder than others. I know that happiness really comes in little things.

» Very own vici: My daughter and the woman she’s become. I raised her mostly on my own, and she’s just a good, wonderful, loving, competent person.

» Zen destination: The rolling farm fields of Pennsylvania or the salt marshes of New Jersey.

» If she had an extra hour each day, she would: Cook something delicious.

» Pet peeve: People who talk on their cell phones while driving humongous SUVs. They’re really scary—and bad for the planet.

» Most marked characteristic: A quirky sense of humor. And I like to be alone a fair amount—I think my friends would say that.

» Life view: chance or fate? I’m very aware of my good luck. On the other hand, I think people get born into circumstances and with qualities that they don’t have a lot of control over.

» Mantra: It’ll be all right.