Leslie Gruss (aka Dr. Leslie Gruss) has indeed put up with a lot of dirty sneakers along these last eleven years since Ripton walked us onto the Tompkins Square baseball field and the extended family of us knitted our way together. She has been a constant partner as we grew through this experience and have developed a deeper appreciation of each other. Dirty sneakers, the mess of mud cakes clothes, the deep mess of boys and men. I didn't say enough about Leslie last night at the Tenement Museum. Leslie has held us all together, has held us all up. Love.