A lady never drinks hard liquor. A lady never runs wild. A lady never curses.

A woman’s place is in peace, and the home place. A woman’s place is in the kitchen. A woman’s place is behind her man.

These are messages I heard growing up. Not all from my parents, although I do recall that my mother was adamant that a lady never chews with her mouth open. And I believe my father said a woman doesn’t box.

Well I never aspired to be a lady, although I do chew with my mouth closed now. 😉

I have drunk hard liquor and rather find it to my liking. I’ve been known to curse like a “drunken sailor” (why it’s the poor sailor who’s had a few too many that we use as a standard is beyond me). And run wild? Yep I sure have when it suits. I’ve also spat to get bugs out of my mouth and again I’m pretty sure a lady doesn’t do that either.

Home is where the heart is, but it doesn’t mean I stay in the home. I also don’t always save for peace because I have opinions and such. I’m hardly ever behind my man because I prefer to be at his side. Interestingly enough he too prefers me at his side. And as for me in the kitchen? Sure I have to be there at times, to cook so I can eat. But I don’t spend all my time in the kitchen.

Thankfully I don’t live in a time where I have to confirm to certain limitations. A lady can do the classy things or the crass thing. A woman can do anything she sets her mind to. For that matter a gentleman can be class or working class. A man can do anything he sets his mind to a so well. For ladies and gentlemen are a state of behavior and state of mind. A woman or man is simply a qualifier based on gender.