My mother was an amazing, and very complex woman. She was an interesting, albeit devoted mother and adoring grandmother. She was a brilliant musician, trained as classical pianist and ballet dancer. All this creativity had to go somewhere so, she gave much of her life to serving on many committees, mostly artistic. Remember this was the 40s and 50s and working mothers, especially in the Arts, were a "rara avis."
My mother was one of the founders of (among others): The Singing Angels, Fairmount Theater of the Deaf, The Cleveland Ballet, The Great Lakes Shakepeare Festival, Lakewood Little Theater (now Beck Center) and Families In Transitional Housing. She also served on the Women's Committees for the Cleveland Art Museum and Cleveland Orchestra. She, like her mother, was featured in "Who's Who In American Women." Also, like her mother (and me AND my cousin Amy Atwell: Authoress), she attended Lake Erie College. She ended up graduating with two Majors and three Minors from Western Reserve College (now Case Western Reserve College.) She was the one of the first wives to join their husbands for overseas Army of Occupation duty after World War Two.
She helped many folks start out their successful businesses, mostly by networking. Don Vanderbrook, the internationally reknown White House Florist is a prime example.
She was very supportive of all my creative endeavors. Her knowledge of music and movies was encyclopedic. I miss her support every time I do a performance. She never missed one, and usually dragged along 50-200 of her nearest and dearest friends. I kid you not. My mother pushed my Dad towards his successful career as a lawyer for the 30 years they were married. Regretfully, they divorced in '74.
I miss being able to call her up and say, Hey, Ma, turn on Turner Classic Movies and tell me about so-and-so." Because she would definitely have known the answer! She nurtured my creative outlets to the max and defended my vision to any and all comers. It can't have been easy being the mother of a disabled child. LIke most kids, you want to strangle your mother at times, but I do respect her and my Dad and my siblings for never giving up on me.
I think one of the best gifts my mom gave me was a sense of wonder and a love of the arts. I met so many fascinating, bizarre, intelligent and downright kooky people through my mom and I think it's helped shaped me into the "Kooky" person I am today! Which isn't a bad thing at all! |
