Don’t Forget to Write

by Sara Goodman Confino

“Yes. You, for example, need someone who will stand up to you. You’ll never respect anyone who caves too easily. And you’ll bulldoze over anyone who gets in your way.”

“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. And don’t ever let anyone tell you we’re the weaker sex.”

Mothers should live forever.

We can only teach them to fish. We can’t also teach them to cook, chew, and swallow.”

The Goldmans tried so hard to impress everyone that they failed to impress anyone.

“We can do anything if we’re together.”

Ada had said that social class was sometimes negotiable in making matches, but often not. And I finally understood she didn’t mean money. She meant values. Core beliefs. The way we treated others. You could be rich as Croesus and still not have class.

“Always say yes to new things,” Ada said. “It’s the only way you’ll be able to write about life—if you actually go out and live it.”

I’m alive when I’m with you.