Girls

With due respect to Martina McBride, this one's for the girls.

A lot of men wish for sons to carry on the family name. I say to the girls, "Keep your own name." (You got married, not adopted.) Or, take his name but keep your own. We have options.

When the chips are down and the next disaster strikes, it's the women who pull it together. Sons gravitate to the wife's family. This may change at some point but I'm convinced it won't be in my lifetime.

Many of my friends are dealing with their own version of the oldies. The men send checks, mow the lawn, paint the fence. The women hold their hand, help them dress, clean up bodily messes, buy cards, make phone calls, schedule appointments, listen to stories, go to the grocery, pick up prescriptions ... I could go on and on.

If you're lucky, you've got a son for about 20 years and then you become an afterthought. If you're really lucky, you have a daughter, a stepdaughter, a goddaughter ... they're with you for life.

Girls rule!