Wisdom Wednesday -- the wisdom of my grandfather

Doris Shirley Silverman (my Mom)
Mark Silverman (1905 - 1966)

My grandfather, Mark Silverman, whom I affectionately called Pop Pop, was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants who came to this country during the Pogroms of Czar Nicholas. He was a dedicated son and hard worker who left school following the death of his father to get a job and help support his family.


He died of cancer when I was just four years old, but I have fond memories of him playing Tiddlywinks, taking me to the park, pushing me on the swings, going for walks and getting ice cream.


My mother always told me throughout my childhood of the advice he gave her while growing up...


Ecclesiastes 9:10a
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

And with it, the advice of Polonius to his son, Laertes...

This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

William Shakespeare, Hamlet, I, iii, 78-80

Mom reminded me of a third thing just the other day . . .

Be honest unto pain of death.