It was good work, the kind of work that let you sleep soundly at night and, when you awoke, look forward to the day.

A lady's hair is her crowning glory

She was developing what Mom called a bit of a sarcastic streak.

The best time to tell your story is when you have to tell your story. When it's not really a choice. But then, when you get that first, messy, complicated version down, you have to read it over and be very tough on yourself and ask, 'Well what's the story here?' If you're lucky enough to have someone you trust looking over your shoulder, he or she can help you if [you] lack perspective on your own story.

Since Mom wasn't exactly the most useful person in the world, one lesson I learned at an early age was how to get things done, and this was a source of both amazement and concern for Mom, who considered my behavior unladylike but also counted on me. "I never knew a girl to have such gumption," she'd say. "But I'm not too sure it's a good thing.

One thing about whoring: It put a chicken on the table.

Unlike diamonds, watches were practical. They were for people on the run, people with appointments to keep and schedules to meet.