Friday, August 05, 2005

One is silver and the other, gold.

I've seen this post before as it makes the rounds of the internet, but today my friend Irene sent it to me again and somehow it struck me anew how awesome it is. And how awesome SHE is.

Her whole family is wonderful. Hi, John, Natalie, Katie, and Nick.

Check him out. Buy his stuff. If you live in Connecticut, vote for him.

(The stupid link above doesn't seem to be working. Try this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-5999034-3640754 )

(Okay, this sucks. Just go to Amazon Books and type in his name. And what does it mean to have a bug in your browser? )

Irene and I were pregnant together. Later, our daughters were college roommates.

Irene and I also share a Beany Malone obsession. If you know what that means, you've got it too.

Belle was born just a few hours after this picture was taken. See how nicely mown that huge lawn is? I did that a few hours BEFORE this picture was taken.

Here's what Irene sent me today:

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

one old love she can imagine going back to..and one who reminds her how far she has come...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

a youth she's content to leave behind...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

a set of screwdrivers, cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family..

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored..

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE. . .

a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .

how to fall in love without losing herself ...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and when to walk away...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table, or a charming inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

===

Thank you, Irene. I like this. I have one thing to add, though.

This list is good for men, too. Even the part about the black lace bra.

Hey, far be it from me to dictate how someone is going to live his/her life in private. . . .

You rock, Irene. You always have and you always will.