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My mother was an exceptional women.We never really saw eye to eye and disagreed on almost everything.She was an extremely talented women,but for some reason, never gave herself enough credit for the beauty which lay within.

Mum was a beautiful pianist.I remember standing by her side as a child and watching, as her tiny fingers seemed to float magically across the keys. For some reason or another she stopped playing, making the excuse the music upset the neighbours.Then one day the piano was gone.Her and dad had decided to donate it to the local Asylum.I was horrified.I knew mum had loved that piano as it had been in the family since she was a child.

She was a great lover of the Opera and Ballet and as a young child introduced me to a world of magic.We had an old radiogram that had belonged to my Grandma,and once or twice a week she would have a field day putting on all her favourite LP,s.There was Madam Butterfly.Of course, since Opera was sung in Italian I never understood what the story was about.But as each scene unfolded,mum would explain to me what was happening. La Boheme,Swan Lake and the great Tenor of the time Caruso rang in my ears as a child.They were very special times for me.As I grew into my teens I was devastated when I looked at the empty space where the old Gram had sat.It got old and apparently full of bora.Dad chucked it.Another piece of mum went with it as did the piano.

As the years rolled on mum took on out work and sewed, I quess,for some extra money.She even had a talent for that.Before she had met my father mum use to sew and design all her own clothes and was always smartly dreesed.Her work was out standing by all accounts.So mum sewed for a number of years ,to my amusment ,as dad earned a good wage back then.Little did I know that dad had been drinking most of the wages, leaving mum no choice but to earn extra to make up the difference.She never let on to any member of the family.It was either by loyalty or shame,a bit of both I think.

We kids left home and led our own lives.Mum took a course in painting water colour.Once again it was a talent that had laid dormant in her for some time.She was praised by her tutor who encouraged her in every possible way.I was proud of her achievement, we all were.
Then again mum sabotaged it.She had decided that since dad was working odd hours,it interfered with their time together.After 40 odd yrs together one would think otherwise.

Some of us are born with one talent, mum was born with many.She was a gifted listener, a wonderful host.She had even designed and sewn her own wedding dress plus her 2 bridesmaids.She had a talent for music and an eye for art.What a shame she never saw what true talent she really had.

I look back now at the mother she was and the successful and independent women she could have been.Mum denied her creative side.Something which we are all born with.Sometimes we have to dig a little deep to find it,but its there.We create and carry life ...dont we...

So mum,you,ve been gone 14 yrs now..time has healed the sadness and the hurt.Although we never got on ,even up to the day before you died,I can thank you for 2 things.
Thank you for giving me life and the crazy thing is, by denying your talents you helped me find mine......Thanks Mama.

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