They sang the words in unison, yet somehow created a web of sounds with their voices. It was like hearing a piece of fabric woven with all the colors of a rainbow. I did not know that such beauty could be formed by the human mouth. I had never heard harmony before.

The painful things seemed like knots on a beautiful necklace, necessary for keeping the beads in place.

If you want to understand any woman, you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully.

If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully. Stories about food show a strong connection. Wistful silences demonstrate unfinished business. The more a daughter knows about the details of her mother's life - without flinching or whining - the stronger the daughter.

Why did I not know that birth is the pinnacle where women discover the courage to become mothers?

I moved my arms through the water, feeling them float on the surface, watching the waves and wake that followed my gesture. Here was magic, I thought. Here was something holy.

The other reason women wanted daughters was to keep their memories alive.