My Daddy had three daughters. I being his youngest was his last chance at a son, and when that didn’t happen, he raised us to be “Boss Ladies.” His motto, which my siblings and I live by to this day was, “Ain’t no givin in and no givin up.”

As I reflect on the heart-breaking, and unfortunate timing of the passing of the Original Boss Lady, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, I am humbled by her dedication and fight for equality.

Our mother taught us as Justice Ginsberg’s mother taught her, “She told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.”

Whoever said, “You can’t have TRUTH without RUTH,” got it right.

To this day, I face hardships as an unwed minority business owner. Just last week, I called a contractor to get a bid on a roof replacement. As we scheduled the appointment, which was a mid morning time, the agent said to make sure my husband would be available. When I inquired that I would be meeting alone, he joked that he wanted the decision maker present. I laughed and said, “Oh, I got you. I’ll see you at 10.” When he came for our scheduled appointment, I along with “the husband” were not there.

When I show apartments, I’m often asked, how long have you managed this building? I have seen the shock on too many faces to count when I share our family has owned the property since 1964.

So, when I think of some of the reasons we should be grateful for RBG, I share the following:

The right to sign a mortgage without a man.

The right to have a bank account without a male co-signer

The right to have a job without being discriminated based on gender

The right for women to be pregnant and have kids and work

One of the most heroic examples of RBG’s fortitude was when her husband Marty was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, requiring grueling radiation treatments. She organized his class notes and typed his final paper, all the while dealing with her own coursework and taking care of a three year old. This resulted in Marty graduating on time, magna cum laude.

As a Menopausebarbee, I recall one of the most iconic television commercials of our time. I sang it around the house daily, it was for Enjoli Perfume.

“I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never, never, never let you forget your a man. Cause I’m a woman - W-O-M-A-N”

You can say that again.

Not only was Ruth Bader Ginsburg the Notorious RBG, she was SUPREME!

RIP with gratitude

PS my 26 year old son just shared he had never seen the Enjoli commercial- now i feel really old! This is for you, Brett

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=enjoli+perfume+commercia%3b&docid=608051551244911206&mid=18DB3218A36EB232035418DB3218A36EB2320354&view=detail&FORM=VIRE