The Daughters of Erietown Quotes

“Everybody changes, Ellie figured. Everybody starts out as one kind of person and ends up being somebody else. … Even when you don't notice it, life is rearranging you.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“When Mrs. Carlton from church said she was shocked to see a Catholic next to Jesus in the McGinty house, Sam's mother stopped pouring coffee into her cup. "Well, Gloria, God loves everyone. Even the bigots." Mrs. Carlton picked up her purse and left.
Daddy loved that story.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“It's one thing to remember your roots, Sam. Helps us keep our balance. But don’t let your roots become your excuse to be stuck.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“It’s one thing to remember your roots, Sam. Helps us keep our balance. But don’t let your roots become your excuse to be stuck.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Mr. Grandin wore a suit and tie every day. “That’s how you know he doesn’t work for a living,” Sam’s dad said. On”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Sam hesitated. "He's a nice man, Mom."

"Sounds like maybe you think Carson Marino is more than just nice."

For the second time in one day, Sam surprised herself. No denial, no changing the subject. "Well, mom," she said, "What if I do?"

"I'm 56 years old, Sam," Ellie said. "I'll take any color of grandchild I can get.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Sam looked at Dr Marino, her face burning. "I didn't need you to defend me, Carson."
He reached into the pocket of his white coat and pulled out a lollipop. "I know that, and so does everyone in this room," he said, handing it to her. "What I wanted you to know, is that you deserve to have someone stick up for you."
She looked down at the lollipop in her hand. "I prefer grape."
"As of this minute, of course you do," he said, smiling. "I'm onto you, Principal McGinty.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Mr McGraw glared at him. "You don't tell me anything."

"In fact, I do," Dr Marino said. "I'm here because Principal McGinty is trying to keep your son safe from diseases that could kill him. That's how much she cares about your little boy." He turned to look at the other parents. "That's how much she cares about all of your children.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Mardee, you've been my best friend for seventeen years. We tell each other everything."
Mardee nodded. "Everything."
"Except we've never talked about sex."
"Why on earth would we do that?"
"Because. If we did, maybe we wouldn't feel so lonely about it. About what's happening. And what isn't happening, for that matter."
"Oh, for God's sake."
"I just mean that maybe that book is right. Maybe it helps if we can talk about it, at least with our friends.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“She drove back to the harbor, where she had lived in Erie own all of her adult life. Across the bridge and into "the land of her people," Aunt Lizzie like to say. So ridiculous, really. Why shouldn't the Italians live with the Irish, and the blacks and Puerto Ricans, for that matter? The men worked together, and sometimes drank in the same bars. They all cheated on their wives, too, and the women kept putting up with them no matter how you pronounce their last names.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Men aren't like us, Sam. Your father needs to feel bigger and stronger, and part of that means living in a house that is all his. It's part of taking care of his family." She smiled and reached up to smooth Sam's hair back from her forehead. "He loves us, which is why he's wearing himself out for us.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“I'm sorry you've had to learn so early that you can't depend on the men in your life. They'll disappoint you ".

"You mean Daddy."

"What I mean, honey, is that men just don't have it in them to be everything they promised to be." The sad look on Sam's face made Ellie wish, for the first time, that she'd had only sons. God made the world for men. Women were an afterthought, just like Eve. No matter what she did, Ellie would never be able to save her daughter from that heartache waiting to ambush her.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Mrs. Shepherd stood at the head of the table as she delivered her annual tutorial on "foods of the world." This was Italy day, and when Mrs. Shepherd said something about the "pungent power of Mediterranean spices," Mary Dawn leaned towards Rosie and wrinkled her nose

"Your people like garlic, right?" she said.

Rosie couldn't believe she was talking to her. "Yeah," she said, sliding her elbows off the table and sitting up straighter. "For sauce, mostly."

"Uh-huh," Mary Dawn said, her voice growing louder. "My mother refuses to cook with it. Says garlic has a way of staying with you. Seeps out of your pores." She flashed an exaggerated frown of sympathy as the girls started exchanging glances. "You must be so embarrassed to smell like your mother's kitchen all the time." All of them started flapping their hands in front of their noses, pretending to wave away the stink.

Rosie stared straight ahead. I will not cry. I will not cry.

"Okay, girls," Mrs. Shepherd finally said. "Quiet down."

No defense of Rosie. No detention for them.

Why couldn't her mother cook ring around the chicken or Boston baked beans like the other mothers? Why didn't she ever use Crisco like they did in class, instead of smelly olive oil? At the sound of the bell, she dashed out of the room.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“Sometimes, Sam would say, "I love you, Daddy," and hold her breath for as long as she could so she wouldn't miss it if he's finally whispered, "I love you, too." Mommy said Daddy loved Sam but that men just don't say that kind of thing out loud. Sam knew that wasn't true because Mary McCallister's daddy always said, "I love you, baby girl!" for no reason at all.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“A woman's world has always revolved around children and other women. At least as long as I've been around, and I'm almost 60." she smoothed the sheet draped across Ellie as she talked, tucking it in around the sides of her body like a cocoon.

"Don't get me wrong," she continued. "We love our men, and the idea of a husband is a good thing. What woman wouldn't want that?"

Ellie thought of her brave, independent Aunt Nessa, teaching until she was seventy and dying in ehr sleep on a train bound for New Mexico. She'd never wanted to marry, and she was the happiest woman Ellie had ever known.

Mrs Drake put the tissue from the box on Ellie's nightstand and blew her nose. "Men need us more than we need them," she said, and then lowered her voice. "Including the doctors around here. They walk around acting like God, but you should see the panic when one of them has to buy a birthday present for his wife. They have no idea what women want."

She washed her hands in the small sink in the corner. "That's why we need our women friends. We're with each other from the beginning to the very end, and everything in between. We understand each other. It's instinctual.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“I rocked you in my arms and I realized that none of us had ever been enough for Brick McGinty.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown

“gun.”
― Connie Schultz, The Daughters of Erietown