i would rather be married to broken jade than flawless clay

Our words had to be circumspect. We could not write anything too negative about our circumstances. This was tricky, since the very form of a married woman's letter needed to include the usual complaints -- that we were pathetic, powerless, worked to the bone, homesick, and sad. We were supposed to speak directly about our feelings without appearing ungrateful, no-account, or unfilial.

In every message she spoke of birds, of flight, of the world away. Even back then, she flew against what was presented to her. I wanted to cling to her wings and soar, no matter how intimidated I was.

Let those who believe, believe. Let those who doubt, doubt.

In that moment I understood that the cruelest words in the universe are if only.

Anyone who says that women do not have influence in men's decisions makes a vast and stupid mistake.

The classics tell us that, in relationships, the one between teacher and student comes second only to the one between parent and child.