Ashley M. Ratcliff, the second oldest of six children, was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in San Diego, California. She graduated in 2006 from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in sociology and minored in professional writing with an editing emphasis. A writer since childhood, Ashley currently serves as the assistant editor at Home Media Magazine, based in Santa Ana. Ashley resides in Long Beach with her rambunctious dog, Berkeley Buster. She is a member of Antioch Church of Long Beach and finds encouragement in her favorite bible verse, Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Inspiration behind Stories 4 Women:
Thank heaven for him:
My father is my hero, and from as early as I can remember I’ve been a daddy’s girl. He’s a loving, gentle, generous, comedic, wise man. I absolutely adore him. I think that father-daughter relationships are a precious thing to behold, something to be treasured. With this story, I just wanted to give honor to my dad for the sacrifices he’s made for my brother, Robert Jr., and I, as well as for the country, for his 20 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps. As much as he tells me he’s proud of me, I’m just as proud of him. Like the Marine motto, “Semper fidelis (always faithful),” so has my father been. I love you, Pops!
Strictly platonic:
It’s an age-old question: Can men and women really be “just friends”? My answer: Of course. My male bestie, Ronilo, and I are living proof. Having a guy as a best friend makes for interesting social interactions. Whenever we’re are out together, people assume we’re boyfriend and girlfriend. But we’re just friends. No, seriously. We’re just friends. And people don’t seem to believe us when we say that. Why is that so difficult to fathom? I wrote this story to show that males and females truly can find friendship without the relationship straying into something more complicated.
Independent bliss:
The experience of living alone has molded me into who I am today. I’ve learned so much about myself in the process, and I know it’s preparing me for my future self, as a wife and mother. It’s a rite of passage of sorts that I recommend every woman goes through at some point in their lives. It’s extremely empowering to know that you can fend for yourself. I felt it very important for me to document this transitional period in my life, into what I like to call “real adulthood.” I’m a work in progress, and I look forward to reflecting back on this time some years from now and reveling in how much I’ve grown.