Blogging from A to Z Challenge: M is for Mom

My theme for the Blogging from A to Z challenge is Creativity. Today I talk about my wonderful mother.

My mother has been my life-long inspiration for creativity. As an artist, singer, and school librarian, she taught me to love all forms of art.

She taught and encouraged me to draw and paint at an early age, supplying me with paints, paper, and an easel. Until I was old enough to take out my own books at the library, she would bring home stacks of books for me to read. I remember calling her up and saying, “Mom, I need more books!” We had lots of books on the shelves, too. After all the kids were gone, and my parents moved to a smaller house, they had a garage sale. And I still wish I had the set of red-leather, beautifully illustrated Childcraft books that they sold. (Since I wrote this, I have a bid up on eBay for an entire set.)

Unfortunately, Mom doesn’t paint or sing anymore due to her age. But I have much of her work hanging in my house.

Her parents saw and encouraged her talent when she was quite young. The story goes that she drew on the wall, and instead of being punished, was complimented on the beautiful drawing. When I was a kid, she did mostly portrait painting. She had a wonderful gift of capturing any person’s likeness. Later in life, she turned to watercolors. You can see some of her paintings here.

Sadly, I didn’t inherit her lovely soprano voice. (I love to sing, but it’s not something you’d ask me to do twice!) In her late 60s and early 70s, Mom sang in the Sacramento Choral Society. One year, my husband and I accompanied her to New York City when the group performed at Carnegie Hall. It was a beautiful, dramatic performance of Carmina Burana. I was so proud of her, and it still makes me teary-eyed when I remember that special evening.

Almost 15 years ago, my husband and I took her on a trip to Europe—England, France, and Italy. Of course, it had been her dream to see the great paintings she’d always studied, and it was a thrill to be able to do that for her. We spent her 70th birthday in a lovely little restaurant in Paris.

So you can see she has been quite an inspiration for me, that she nurtured and encouraged my creativity. My dream has long been to have one of my novels published. Now that it’s finally happening, I can’t wait for her to see it. I truly don’t know if I’d be at this point in my life without her, without her love and encouragement, and the importance of creativity that she instilled in me.

Is there someone special in your life you inspired you and encouraged your creativity?