Alma, a member of a therapy group, was asked why she seemed sad. She said she was still sad about her abortion six months go and went on to tell about it again, fruitlessly, monotonously, and weightily, as though this were the core of her life. Actually, she had a lot more going on, as I well knew. Her sadness was important and could not be dismissed, but this was a conversation already cooked,like an overdone stew.