I like that! I didn’t think you were supposed to use a comma before “and” at the end of lists though? For example, I thought it was milk, bread and cheese; not milk, bread, and cheese.
How’d you like me slipping in that semicolon? :)
That’s how I learned it as well, but newer references on grammer encourage the comma before the “and” in a list. It’s a bit more precise. However, either style is considered correct these days.
Google "serial comma," "Oxford comma," or "Harvard comma." Those are the preferred terms for the comma preceding the 'and' or 'or' when three or more items are named in a list.
Although you'll find some slight disagreement on American usage and English usage, I believe you'll find that dropping the serial comma is one of those abortions of grammar that journalists gave us to save ink and space on a page.
Using the serial comma adds consistency and prevents confusion. One example: "Rebecca was proud of her new muffin recipes: blueberry, peanut butter and chocolate chip and coconut."
Without the serial comma, you don't know if Rebecca's last recipe was peanut butter, chocolate chip, and coconut, or chocolate chip and coconut. Or perhaps she made peanut butter and chocolate chip muffins, and also coconut muffins.
Some writers use the serial comma only when necessary to prevent confusion.
Me? I use it all the time. Oxford commas rule!
I learned the style that dictates using that last comma before the “and.” Although I see it omitted quite often lately. I’m not sure if there has been a formal change.