<P><B>A celebration of the highs and lows of one woman's life through the experiences of many others</B></P><P><I>The first and most important woman in my life was my mother. As it should be, in an ideal world.</I></P><P>Candida Baker grew up in a colorful family, with an actor father and costume designer mother. Her parents' complex, and at times chaotic, lives made for a challenging environment, and from an early age Candida understood the importance of friends, finding comfort and support from many close friendships with women and from ongoing loving relationships with all her sisters. Here she celebrates all the wisdom and nurturing that supportive female friends, family, mentors, and even strangers can bring to our lives. With great deftness she weaves the tapestry of her life around the experiences of other women, who freely share their stories of kindness, laughter, betrayal, and loss. This book positively sparkles with womanly warmth and humor.