Alito, light of my Nation, fire of my courts. My land, my law. A-lee-toe: The tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. A. Lee. Toe.

He was Al, plain Al, in law school, standing six-foot-two in graduation robes. He was Lee when prosecuting. He was Allie on the bench. He was Samuel before Congress. But in my arms, he was always Alito...