You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.

You're in a horse race but you're thinking like a sheep. Sheep don't win horse races.

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.

You West Virginia girls are one tough breed," he said. You got that right," I told him.

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

I feel like I failed," I said. "Don't beat yourself up," Jim said. "She might not have turned out like you planned, but that don't mean she turned out wrong.

Mom always said people worried too much about their children. Suffering when you are young is good for you, she said. It immunized your body and your soul.