deck, move it up and down to cut a slit in paper running to within about a half-inch from each end of the cards. with knife blade again in the middle, push left thumb into space above where knife separates the cards and right thumb into space just below knife. figure 34. to creep ever so slowly into my being. sometimes i feel like i can't catch my breath, just thinking about them leaving. i want to come up for air, but i can't. i know i'm not the first to experience this, but i am the first to experience my own daughter leaving. 