1. “For all of a sudden when This is my life” (Smith).
The above quote reflects the fact that Ivy is realizing that she needs to appreciate the life she is presently living because that is her life. However, it is also a realization for the readers they need to start living in the moment and appreciate life as well, rather than just living with the hopes for a better future. Ivy’s words hide the lesson that it is pointless to wait with the hopes that a better life will come later on because such a hope prevents us from the life we are already living, no matter how good or bad it may be.
2. “I have lost my spunk some way a lack of inbetween” (Smith 193).
On the surface it is apparent that Ivy is lamenting about how she feels about herself. However, many of us have felt this way too, especially when we have to jump from one phase of our life to another, with no “inbetween.” Like Ivy, many of us spend years in one phase of our life that we tend to become used to it, for instance, the childhood phase or the phase of being single. Then in many cases, we get so used to that particular phase of our life that once it comes time to move into another phase of our life, it appears that skipped a major chunk of life, as if there was nothing in between.
3. “I guess you would think as a featherbed underneath” (Smith)
This quote is from Ivy’s letter to her daughter Ethel, and it reflects Ivy’s wisdom on certain topics. In simple words, Ivy is conveying the message not only to her daughter but also to the readers that a mother never differentiates between her children even if she has a lot. She also clarifies to her daughter and all those readers who do not have children that having and taking care of children may seem like a headache and a troublesome, but beyond the trouble, having children can be a joy, and as Ivy writes, can make a person’s heart swell up.
Work Cited
Smith, L. (1988). Fair and tender ladies. New York: Berkley Books.
