It was 1987 when my mom cruised around in a rusty Renault Encore that could only be described as a rolling eyesore. It was small, unattractive, and prone to breakdowns, and I was at that awkward age where I thought it was mortifying. I’d make her drop me off a block away from school just so my friends would think I’d walked there.
Being on a tight budget, we couldn’t afford to take that clunker to a mechanic, who would probably just tell her to junk it anyway. One night, after wrestling with the car’s refusal to cooperate, she spotted an infomercial and decided to order a set of DIY auto repair books. She was determined to learn how to fix it herself.
Over one summer, my mom transformed from a car novice into a DIY mechanic. She learned how to change tires, perform oil changes, fix the emergency brake, jump-start the car, and replace various parts including belts, brakes, spark plugs, and even the clutch. By the time the leaves began to change, she’d saved the Encore from the junkyard so many times that we wondered if it was immortal.
Just before the new school year, she received a call from the university, informing her she had an interview for a temp-secretary position. If she landed the job, it would mean no more worrying about how to keep food on the table or lights on. The university was a 25-minute drive north, and the question loomed: would the Encore make it?
The day before her big moment, my mom sat down at our electric typewriter for some speed-typing drills and practiced taking dictation. By afternoon, our neighbor had dropped off a chic navy dress and beige pumps for her to borrow. She wanted to look sharp.
On the morning of the interview, my mom rushed us through our morning routine and dropped me off a full 45 minutes early to avoid traffic. She was anxious about the car breaking down.
I spent my first day back at school chatting with friends about sunburns and growth spurts. We compared notes on boys and proudly displayed how many Madonna songs we could belt out. Meanwhile, I couldn’t shake my worry about Mom.
Later that evening, she filled me in on her day. She arrived for her interview 15 minutes early and made a fantastic impression. The hour-long session went smoothly, with questions about her work experience and future goals—everything she had rehearsed.
Once the interview wrapped up, she headed to the parking lot, only to be met with a dreadful noise from the Encore, accompanied by a plume of smoke. The muffler had fallen off! Without missing a beat, she kicked off her borrowed pumps, grabbed a floor mat from the back seat, and knelt in the parking lot to fix it. Just then, the HR lady from her interview spotted her and asked if she needed help. Mom looked up, smiled, and said, “That’s kind of you, but I can handle this. It just takes a bit of grit and determination.”
She got hired on the spot.
The Encore finally gave up the ghost a few months later. From then on, I never felt embarrassed about being dropped off at school again.
Summary
This story illustrates how determination and resourcefulness can turn challenges into opportunities. Through her persistence, my mom not only tackled car troubles but also landed a job that changed our lives. If you’re looking for more insights into home insemination and family journeys, check out resources like Progyny or explore the couples’ fertility journey for invaluable advice.