About

“I don’t know why I’ve had such a good life,” my mother said to me recently. “I’m nothing special.”

“What do you mean, nothing special?”

“I have no talent in anything,” she said.

My mother and I have had this conversation before. When she felt the same way years ago, I told my son William who immediately responded, “Grandma’s talent is giving to others.”

This website is a tribute to my mother, who has touched more lives than any of us can count. And my hope is that it will grow to be a tribute to all the “Modest Millies” out there who give their wisdom, warmth, and know-how without hesitation or expectation.

They play games with us without playing games. They teach us about things like integrity, dignity, and generosity. They are rare in this world, but when they are in our world, they deserve to know they’re special.

If you know of a “modest Millie,” please share your story, in your own words, at mystory@mahjonggmemoirs.com. And if you’re like my mom – who responds to writing assignments with “I don’t know how to put words together Lisa. That’s the worst possible thing you can ever ask me to do!” – then include your phone number in your email and we’ll get your story down through an interview. (Several of the stories on the homepage were based on interviews.)

Thanks for reading, for caring, and for sharing!

- Lisa Calderone