Two great female pioneers of cinema, unrelated though they share a surname, are long-worshipped icons for me. They are the actors Hepburn, graceful European gamine Audrey, who died a decade ago, and stylish American independent Katharine. Today, we lost her too. I still miss the former... and it seems I will miss the latter for a very, very long time as well.

Miss Katharine Hepburn, who had been in poor health for a number of years, died today at her home in Old Saybrook, CT, at the age of 96. Her long, award-winning career was filled with playing strong women on stage, screen, and television: Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story, Amanda Bonner in Adam's Rib, and Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, just to name a few. And she became known herself as a self-sufficient, intelligent, freethinking woman. Daily Celebrations offers a terrific summation of the screen legend's life and career.

Some of Kate Hepburn's most interesting words came back to me today as I remembered her presence and talents. Surfing around, I found a collection of Hepburn wisdom and thought I would share it in honor of a gifted artist and a fine role model for indepndent women everywhere.

• "Acting is the most minor of gifts and not a very high-class way to earn a living, " she once said. "After all, Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four."
  
• "Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."
  
• "We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change."
  
• "Without discipline, there's no life at all."
  
• "It's life isn't it? You plow ahead and make a hit. And you plow on and someone passes you. Then someone passes them. Time levels."
  
• "If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun."
  
• "Life is hard. After all, it kills you."
  
• "Death will be a great relief. No more interviews."

These quotes and many more can be found at Brainy Quote.

Rest in peace, Miss Hepburn, and thank you very much. To me, you'll always be woman of the year.

Calm down, Spensah; she's on her way.