I was told at the convent school that I attended it was not allowed to wear patent leather shoes because you could see your knickers in them!!

Two women taught me about being a lady:my mother and my aunt, her sister twelve years her junior. They were very different, and so were their lessons. My mother came to this country when she was eleven and at fifteen was supporting her family. My aunt was born here and started teaching herself the niceities of “lady” when she was about six.She had a Ph.D in “lady.” My mother worked Saturdays, so I spent the wknd at my aunt’s home. She taught me the rules about dress, table manners,etc. But my mother taught me the most valuable lesson: treat all people equally, with kindness and compassion. Race, age, economic status were irrelevant. My mother’s lesson took me much farther, professionally and personally. I must be the only one who was not given the “underwear” speech. It was just always there in quality and abundance. And Idid end up in the E.R. with a massive hemorrage when I was twenty two. After the I.V. was quickly placed the intern couldn’t get off my black lace bra—I told him to cut it off. He said it was too beautiful, so I guess I passed the ultimate lady rule.

My RN Granny always stressed the “clean underwear” bit and always gave me wonderful lingerie for my b’day “just in case” and when I was hospitalized in an emergency I was proud that I was properly dressed even though I was scared to death in the ER. The underwear comment was a pleasant trip down memory lane and I still wear wonderful underwear!

Remain a virgin until I married Prince Charming.

If you make yourself a doormat, don’t complain when you get stepped on.

When dressing to go out, remove one piece of jewelry; always carry two pair of gloves (one for travel and a fresh pair); thank you notes are to be written the same day of the event or gift; never raise your voice and the underwear thing! Full petticoats! (Do they still make them?) Too many rules, too little time.

Don’t chase boys. Don’t handle money. Don’t make any body noises. Keep a clean house. Basically deny your humanness. Maybe that is what being “civilized” was all about???

I was taught that no one likes to be around a “sad sack”. So hence, always be happy and funny.

Don’t ask people for anything, it’s rude. A lady waits to be given what people are willing to offer. Now that is a set up for problems in life!

My mother told me I was always a lady starting at the age of 3 years. However, speaking loudly and cursing is definately not lady like.

Cross her legs at the ankle.

A real lady never let’s her tattoo enter the room before she does, keep them small and pick a classic design, that matches both the little black dress and the leather boostier.

Be kind. What happens when we log into a Hillary thread on this website. I’m turning into a real ”beach.”