According to the author Haruki Murakami, writing a novel is like ET assembling a transmitter out of junk in the garage. 

You need to collect a lot of junk to be able to find what you need.

So, too, is writing a column, and that is why I keep a file of anecdotes.

Within my file are gems that highlight the human interactions that make our jobs so endearing (and also sometimes frustrating).