Happy birthday, Charlsie.
Today you would’ve turned 85.
The whole Mother’s Day weekend-slash-your birthday thing is always an interesting negotiation of emotions while I watch others celebrate their mothers or being celebrated as mothers… and I light a candle of remembrance and update you with a journal entry even though I know you know all that’s going on with me from far beyond what even I can see.
Today, I remember one of the times you were maddest at me, about 30 years ago. I was being complimented on my ability to earn, save, and manage money. I was in high school and working three part-time jobs plus booking paid acting work that would take me out of school to shoot sometimes.
I was saving toward my car, which I would eventually buy with a $5000 cash down payment. I was always great with money.
Someone in our family asked me how I got so good with money and I said that I watched you struggle and stress and I knew I never wanted to do that, so I made different choices. You were LIVID. You flew into a rage about how you wanted me to learn what to DO from you, not what NOT to do.
Thing is, it’s all the same work, and as I evolve my money mindset with Denise Duffield-Thomas and Dana Middleton I am so grateful to release what is not my issue with money, with love, with leadership, with anything else.
Momma, I learned so much of EVERYTHING from you, and I continue to do so. I love you so much. I miss our talks every day. They still happen; they’re just different now.
Happy birthday to the best woman I’ve ever known. 
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!