Mother always said: "The first rule of negotiation is 'No ask. No get.'" Hair pulled back in a tight black bun and wearing flat shoes; the executive made a life for us as Mother always said: "There are two things you don't do You don't waste my time and you don't waste my money." Wearing a three-piece suit to wheel and deal, Mother always said: "I'm not your Ma, Mum or Mummy; I'm your Mother." Speaking to me as if I were grown, adding: "Not everyone who smiles at you is your friend." or "It's not mi en; it's mit ten." when my language strayed too urban. Mother always said: "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull!" If I said: "Mother, I want that." Mother always said: " yes, and people in Hell want ice water." As I rolled my eyes at the terse quip and once the belt flew Mother always said: "This hurts me more than it hurts you." Yet of all the proverbs and all the wise words I most remember Mother always saying: "You are the one reason God put me on this Earth."