A collection of short stories inspired by grit, grace—and a mother’s timeless words.
My mother was born in 1938, when “being a lady” meant never raising your voice in public and knowing how to make a pie crust without breaking a sweat. By the time I came along in 1958, she had perfected the role—grace stitched into every gesture, her hair always just so.
She had a phrase she kept in her pocket, ready to pull out when I wandered off-course:
“Always be a lady.”
She’d say it with a mix of pride and warning, her voice calm, her eyes steady. I’d nod, pretending I understood. Truth was, I didn’t follow the rule much. Okay—ever. But those words became a quiet drumbeat in the background of my life, guiding me even when I was off chasing trouble.
The Lady—my alter ego—has walked through chaos and beauty, learned from both, and found ways to keep moving when quitting seemed easier.
At my core, my purpose has been to guide my children—to show them how to step into their lives with passion, courage, and intention. If I did that by being a strong, capable, and fierce woman, then so be it.
Not a bad purpose at all. And maybe, just maybe, that makes me a Lady after all.