My mother never spoke of regrets for pathways not taken…despite having an opportunity for a very independent life as a singer that she turned away from. I think it was her own idea. In her late teens she sang in Evansville Indiana and Miami Fl...belting out the blues in nightclubs…but turned down an offer to go to the big time in NY. Instead she married my good looking, independent thinking, but not overly wealthy father.
She was the third youngest daughter in a family with an alcoholic father who once brought a horse into their house...(he had a livery stable i gather) but my grandmother divorced him and raised her daughters on her earnings as a beautician.
My mother was a warm and caring person, and sang to us growing up. Songs of emotion... which is what she excelled at. She also read stories to us that taught us to care….but To this day it is the music that reminds me of her and I strongly associate the blues with my mother’s love.
But even though the songs were emotive it was one particular minor incident when i was around 4 or 5 that remains imprinted in my mind and memory. My mother and I were looking out of our second floor flat window...and a child of around my age was running by below, crying and with diarrhea. My mother said: “ imagine how you would feel”...and ever since, that is what I have done...I have tried to imagine how i would feel in the other person’s shoes.
Thank you so much mommy.