I’m sitting in the swing on the porch freezing with this 65 degrees and cool breeze. Trying to enjoy my bagel in the coolness. If this was fall we would love this 65 degrees but I’m cold. Penelope crawled under the blanket in her playpen and is completely covered. I’m thinking the porch tile would be too cold for King Balthazar to come and look for a place to sun bathe.

The weed eater concerto down the street is quickly turning into noise and interfering with my porch pondering. The noise has completely drowned out all the bird songs in my yard. The sky is deep blue today with lots of fluffy stretched our clouds. Looks like Mother Nature grabbed each one on each side and pulled them apart, then pushed them back together to make them fluffy. They are layered today in different colors of gray and purple.

Stew and I are sitting on the porch and we keep hearing this bird screaming, “Frank, Frank!” It was getting on my nerves so I said, “Hush, Frank has left the building!” I started laughing and Stew said, “Mother, go pack for Shady Oaks. It’s bingo day. You’ll love it!” I said, “Cheated at bingo last time, got kicked out!” We just sat and laughed and the bird kept screeching, “Frank, Frank!” Sounded like the bird was being choked to death and was calling Frank for help. Research says blue herons say, “Frank.” I’ve seen them fly over the house before so maybe one was in the creek in the back yard.

Today is my youngest’s son’s 33rd birthday. He entered this world at 4 pounds but you’ve never know it now. Emergency C section that traumatized me. Chief was on the way to the Russell Montgomery Sewing Plant for some event and the Russell Security had to chase him down. Mama just happened to be visiting that day and she took me to the hospital. I was on the verge of having a stoke and the first cut of the scalpel came before I was completely anesthetized. I was 33 years old and Chief was 54. Stewart was spoiled by Thomas and Rosie. Thomas carried him everywhere, was always holding him in family photos. Actually, I think he’s still spoiled.

I came home from town today a different route than usual and rode by where the Roanoke Funeral Home and Grocery used to stand. First time I brought Chief home to Roanoke I carried him by so he could see I wasn’t making this up. He wanted to take a photo but we didn’t have a camera with us. Funny how you drive around in your home town and certain memories pop up in your mind.

I’m always trying to figure out how I used to ride my unicycle past the high school to get to the city library. I’d check out eight books, four for each arm, and home I’d peddle. There was this high hill that was graded down for a new gym and the thru street is no more. The elementary school perched on top of that hill. Had an overpass from the elementary school, over the street, for the children to walk to the lunchroom. It’s so different now. I cut through the high school parking lot going to town and always try to picture myself on my unicycle riding past the high school and elementary school. The landscape is so different without that hill.

First time I ever got in trouble in elementary school was jumping up trying to touch the top of the overpass on the way to the lunchroom. I was in serious trouble! Had to stand in the dark cloakroom after lunch for getting out of line and jumping up when we crossed the overpass. I also remember as a child we were walking across that overpass when the teacher told us President Kennedy had been assassinated.

When I was thinking about riding my unicycle I remember how determined I was to learn to ride it. I spent so many hours riding down my street from chestnut tree to chestnut tree holding on to the limbs till I finally let go one day and off I went. Determination is persistence to keep going no matter the roadblocks. Babies learn to walk with determination. They stumble and fall and grasp on to furniture but with perseverance they eventually get brave, step off, and begin to walk through their world.

Sometimes we give up when the going gets tough or uncomfortable. Even though it’s difficult, we can accomplish what we want to achieve if we are determined and persistent. It takes sweat and tears and hard work to accomplish achievable goals. Don’t give up. Approach your goals as if failure is not an option. Fight for what you want with determination and persistence. Be self-disciplined.

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination,” — Colin Powell.