Jaime Morrison Curtis - Prudent Advice for Every Woman

Always send a thank-you note.

This has served your mother and grandmothers well for generations and seems a fitting place to start.

Try to know what is bubbling around
inside your heart.

Your heart is a great river after a long spell of rain, spilling over its banks. All signposts that once stood on the ground are gone, inundated and carried away by that rush of water. And still the rain beats down on the surface of the river. Every time you see a flood like that on the news you tell yourself: Thats it. Thats my heart.

Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami

Dont underestimate your fathers
ability to understand you.

Or any mans for that matter.
Set high expectations.

When given the opportunity,
wear a costume.

Learn to love cooking if you can.
If you cant, still have a few simple dishes
that you can prepare well.

Asparagus Wrapped in Bacon

Cut the hard bottoms off the stalks of a bunch of asparagus.

Wrap four pieces of asparagus in one piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick that has been soaked in water. Repeat with remaining asparagus.

Sprinkle generously with coarse salt.

Grill over medium heat until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is browned.

Wash your face twice a day.

And apply moisturizer with sunscreen.
Nice skin will be important to you someday.

Make time for the art museum
in every city you visit.

You learn much about a city and yourself when you see its art collection. A good museum will fill your chest until it feels as though your heart could explode.

A dog is a loyal friend from whom you will
learn the nature of love and devotion.

Give lots of hugs to everyone you care for.

This is one of your fathers most endearing qualities.

Offer your seat to elderly and
pregnant people.

And help them with their bags.

Thank those who offer you assistance
in their native language.

Thank you, Danke, Merci, Gracias, Grazie, Gratia, Efcharisto, Obrigada, Xie Xie, Arigato, Mamnoon, Tak, Kszi, Khawp khun, Dakujem, Toda, Ksznm, Mahalo, Mese

Whenever possible, take the train.

You have a garden.

If you ever get sad that you dont have a garden of your own, remember that you have hundreds of beautiful gardens all over the city and all over the world. Try to erase the language of want from your head. You have everything that you need.

Appreciate the weather.

It is one of the few uncontrolled experiences of nature you will have if you live in the city.

Tip the person who handles your luggage.

Call if you are going to be late.

But try to be on time.

Be generous.

With your time, your money, your heart. If, on my best day, there was a single lesson I could hope to impart to you, this would be it.

When you are a preteen, read
Little Women, Little House on the Prairie, and
Gone with the Wind .

I have been saving my copies for you since I was a young girl myself.

If you have a daughter who cant sleep,
sing In My Life to her.

This is your favorite lullaby. You gently pat my face with your tiny hands while I sing it to you, and by the end of the second round you are asleep. John Lennon wrote this in 1964, the year after his son Julian was born. It is my personal opinion that he wrote it thinking of his baby, and when I hear it or sing it, I think of you.

Your beauty is not something you earned;
appreciate it but maintain modesty
and humility about it.

Few things are as unattractive as a pretty woman who flaunts her assets in a boastful manner. Few things are as sad as a pretty woman who believes her beauty defines her worth.

Pay attention to politics.

There is so much I have to tell you about this subject, but for now I will advise you to register to vote, and then to vote in every election to which you are entitled, no matter how small. Perhaps you will grow up with a deep conscience and strength of conviction that will drive you into political life yourself. I am more certain than ever that you could succeed on that path. Regardless, you are obligated to participate in your own governance.

Learn the rules of football.

I wish I understood it.

When frustrating things happen,
keep them in perspective.

Its easy to let frustration over small inconveniences and minor affronts mutate into anger toward others and a general dissatisfaction with life. If you can learn to manage this natural tendency, you will possess a broad sense of well-being and superior mental and physical health.

Dont lie, except to comfort people.

Im not upset that you lied to me, Im upset
that from now on I cant believe you.

Friedrich Nietzsche

When growing herbs for cooking, plant the
mint in a separate pot or it will take over
wildly and crowd the others out.

Tend to your friendships, especially
those with women.

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

Anas Nin

Take care of your teeth.

This is an incredibly boring piece of advice, but tooth pain is terrible, and unattractive teeth lead people to believe you are uneducated.
Thats just how it is.

Splurge on fresh flowers once in a while.

Three hydrangeas in a low vase, some blue iris and big yellow sunflowers, or your grandmothers favorite, lilies. Any flower will do and will be a burst of color and a sweet-smelling start to your weekend. My favorite is ranunculus, with its sculptural stem.

Avoid smoking cigarettes.

It is extremely difficult to stop, and it will reduce your quality of life, especially when you are old.

When your clothes match your eyes
you look especially pretty.

If you are out to dinner with friends
and get stuck with a bill that is more than
you owe, just pay it and dont give it
a second thought.

You are lucky to have friends to eat with, and its better to be the one paying than the one shorting the bill.

Forgive your mother.

I know I am likely to screw you up in some deep, painful way. But I am going to try hard not to.

Consider choosing footwear appropriate
to the occasion.

For example, it is smart to wear boots in the rain and flip-flops in the sun, not the other way around. This is one of those do as I say, not as I do types of recommendations.

Good lighting is the key to decorating
a cozy home.

Maintain your car according to
the manufacturers instructions.

Get oil changes on time, check the tire pressurethat sort of thing. When I was younger I couldnt be bothered with this stuff and learned my lesson the hard way, numerous times. It is unfortunate to feel like a clich about women, and it is also unfortunate to have a malfunctioning car because of your own inattention.

Its easier if you clean as you go.

Whole grains and fresh fruit
are good choices.

But a cupcake is worth every calorie.

Sometimes people just want to be heard.

So it is important to learn how to listen.

Well-manicured hands are not a necessity
but they can make you feel nice.

Try to use peoples names when you
address them, even if you are fairly certain
you are never going to see them again.

The gentleman who prepares your coffee and the woman who hands you your valet ticket are two examples. I have found that people feel good when you acknowledge them in this way.

Maintain good credit at all costs.

This is a lesson for the ages. There is much more to it that I will do my best to teach you, but you can start by keeping a written budget and developing a sense of responsibility toward your future self.

Visit the important cities of the
countries neighboring yours.

Such visits will help you gain insight into the experience of your neighbors who may be immigrants from that area. It will also be fun.