Over the decades I’ve been lucky enough to know and trust many women of good character, but mostly in the realm of friendship.

I’m speaking of sensible, practical-minded women — women I always felt I could trust and rely upon and who always had a certain steadiness. And who were wise about human nature, and had a pretty good idea about who they were and believed in hard work and discipline and who always offered affection in a comforting, nourishing, no-pressure sort of way. Women, in short, who’ve reminded me in certain ways of my late mother, Nancy.

Every guy on the planet says this, I know.

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