# Chapter 240

Persistence is the magic my mom always taught us. So here I am writing again this morning at zero dark thirty for the 605th straight day because that is what persistence is about. . . persisting. There can be no substitute. My mom was the model of persistence in life. She did not have an easy life and I am pretty sure that as I approach 60 years of living, no one has an easy life, but her’s had some particular challenges.

Today would have been her 78th birthday and that is what has prompted me to write these matters down. Neither of my parents graduated from high school and I am not convinced that this has ever bothered my dad, but it definitely bothered my mother. So much so in fact that she asked me to help her study for her GED when I was in college!! Now that is persistence! And of course she passed with flying colors because she was persistent in studying. She loved to read and she hated leaving things undone, and so her GED test was a slam-dunk. Persistence.

Although my dad is arguably more capable and talented than any of the rest of our family, my mom always made more money than he did. She could save it too, something my dear father couldn’t do if his life depended on it. She was persistent in life and it regularly delivered great gifts to her. We should follow suit. And I have for the most part. I make my path in the world reading and understanding and that is part of that persistence gift that just keeps on giving. Happy happy birthday mama!