In 1987, my mother navigated life in a rust-colored Renault Encore—an eyesore that constantly broke down. I was old enough to feel embarrassed by that car, often insisting she drop me off a block away from school so I could pretend I walked.
Being financially strained, we couldn’t afford to take the car to a mechanic, likely because they would have recommended its retirement anyway. One evening, after sleepless hours contemplating the car’s unreliability, she stumbled upon an infomercial and decided to order a series of DIY auto mechanic books.
Determined to master car repairs, my mother devoted a summer to learning. By the end, she could change tires and oil, fix the emergency brake, jump-start the vehicle multiple times, and replace belts, brakes, spark plugs, and even the clutch. As fall approached, she had saved that Encore from the junkyard so many times that we began to wonder if anything could truly break it.
Just before the new school year began, she received a call from the university, inviting her for an interview for a temporary secretary position. Securing this job could alleviate our financial worries about food and utilities. The university was a 25-minute drive north—would the Encore be up for the challenge?
The day before the interview, she practiced typing drills on our electric typewriter, preparing for dictation tests. Our neighbor kindly lent her a stylish navy blue dress and beige pumps to ensure she looked polished for the occasion. On the morning of the interview, she hurried us through breakfast and dropped me off at school much earlier than necessary to avoid traffic. Her primary concern? The possibility of the Encore breaking down.
While my classmates and I chatted about sunburns and growth spurts, I couldn’t shake my worries about my mom. Later that evening, she recounted her day. Arriving at the interview 15 minutes early, she made a positive impression on the HR representative. The interview lasted an hour, and she felt confident, answering questions about her experience, future aspirations, and perceived weaknesses—queries she had meticulously practiced.
Afterward, she returned to the parking lot and was met with a dreadful noise from the Encore, accompanied by a puff of smoke. The muffler had fallen off. Without hesitation, she removed her borrowed shoes, retrieved a floor mat from the back, and got on her knees in the parking lot to reattach the muffler just enough to get home. The HR lady witnessed her determination and approached, offering assistance. My mother, however, replied, “Thank you for your kindness, but I can handle this. It just takes some grit and tenacity.” She was hired on the spot.
A few months later, that car finally succumbed to its fate. But from that day forward, I was never embarrassed by my mother’s resourcefulness again.
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Summary
This narrative illustrates the resilience and resourcefulness of a mother determined to overcome financial struggles and provide for her family while imparting valuable lessons about perseverance and self-sufficiency.