68 Of 365 (366) For 2012

[ All credit to fuoconero7, whose lovely picture may be found here. ]

“EVERY 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,

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

• a youth she’s content to leave behind,

• a past juicy enough, that she’s looking forward to retelling it in her old age

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

• one friend, who always makes her laugh and one who lets her cry,

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

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

• a feeling of control over her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

• how to fall in love without losing herself,

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

• when to try harder and when to walk away,

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

• that her childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over,

• what she would and wouldn’t do for love or more,

• how to live alone, even if she doesn’t like it,

• whom she can trust, whom she can’t and why she shouldn’t take it personally,

• where to go (be it to her best friend’s kitchen table or a charming inn in the woods), when her soul needs soothing,

• what she can and can’t accomplish in a day, a month and a year.

[ Pamela Redmond Satran ]