The women that I’ve known throughout my life have influenced who I am, what I believe and why I believe it. So here’s a salute to a few of them and a resounding thank you to the rest.
My mother Catherine has been described by women I knew as a child as the kindest person they ever met. She is the reason that I am a good person.
My stepmother Robin taught me to always have my own money and to count on myself. She was smarter than she gave herself credit for and in her 70s was running a jewelry company whose main client was Sakes. She told me at a particularly dark point that “Aimee you will land on your feet, you always do.” She was right.
My high school English teacher who was the first person to tell me I was a good writer, and is the reason for what I do today.
My dear friend Susan who grew up in a family of alcoholics and drug abusers and got out. She became a nurse, spent five years in the Peace Corps in Africa and Papua New Guinea working on women’s health issues and now she is a researcher in neuroscience. She has been a better friend than I deserve.
My former boss Arlene who taught me so much about business and believed that I could be a successful journalist.
My other friend Susan who was a rock when I was going through a painful divorce and to this day is still there when I need her.
My neighbor Riva and her amazing daughters who picked up their lives after something that would have wrecked most women and went on to become some of the best people I know.
My friend Laura who is married to a former commander in the Navy and whose husband once said something like “Men I serve with don’t get why I am with her because she is so independent.”
My daughter Katie who is so brave and works so hard. She understands more at 19 than I did in my late 20s. And anything she does, she excels at.
Brave Women all over the world who we honor on this day.