Women With Vision

My mother always understood my dreaming. She encouraged me with books, dress up clothes, dolls and complimented me for being able to "entertain" myself. There were always crayons, paints and paper for me to draw my dreams. Often I was inspired by the flowers in my mother's garden or the beautiful trees in a nearby park. We lived in a neighborhood where I spent hours playing with my friends and I remember every detail of the few blocks near my house.

Our home was filled with music. My mother sang as she went through her day and I often joined in. My sister, a brilliant talent at a young age, practiced the piano every day. So the rest of the family learned with her as she explored classical piano literature.

My family was very stable. My father, a self made man, believed in hard work, diligence and striving to achieve. My mother took her job of house wife and mother as a great privilege. She worked very hard to make sure that my sister and I were happy and healthy. My parents wanted us to be exposed to the arts and often took us to museums and concerts even though this was a strain on the family economy.

My schools were good, and we had music from grade school through high school. I took piano lessons, as a young child. Ballet lessons were the therapy that my mother recommended for a bad limp as I recovered from a broken leg. When an artist friend offered art lessons, I was given the opportunity to discover watercolors. When I was 12 years old my biggest childhood dream was fulfilled: I was old enough to take voice lessons.

As I studied, my parents emphasized hard work and provided opportunities and encouragement. This has been a lifelong lesson for me. Talent is a gift, but it needs to be nurtured. Dreaming opens the door to possibilities, but when you walk through the door, you have to be ready. So hard work, every day will get you ready to go after your dreams.

When I got to college, I continued to reach for my dream of becoming and opera singer.

There were many of opportunities for me to study operatic literature and to discover German lieder. I loved the way the music and the words combined to give the singer a powerful way to express the emotion or thought behind the music. These were very dramatic concepts and I loved to be able to interpret the composer's ideas.

In college, I had many opportunities to perform in campus musicals, choral groups and other musical comedy entertainment. This was great fun and I discovered a new dream; after school I headed for New York City.

Off Broadway theatre was where I found success. I found steady work in musical shows, summer stock and as a cowgirl entertainer at Freedomland . It was very exciting and I learned to love theater. Dreams led to encouragement, hard work, opportunities, appreciation and being in the right place at the right time. All of this and good luck led to my success.

I have always been lucky that my life had building blocks that came at the right time.

When I came to Loudoun County and began working with the community, I discovered that I had extraordinary good fortune when I was growing up. There were so many people in the Loudoun community who had very little opportunity. The arts were what I knew and what I could give to others. The job at the Loudoun Valley Community Center was another case of being at the right place at the right time. It was so much fun to introduce people to the joy of the arts. Senior Citizens discovered great art, sculpted clay country churches, made cardboard dulcimers and formed a dulcimer band. Elementary school children used paint, clay, and printing materials for the first time. There were preschoolers singing, Christmas shows, art shows, dancing lessons, piano lessons and teen dances. There were artists, musicians and dancers who all helped and taught others. I was encouraged by the community, staff and my family.

As the arts started to develop I joined others in planning committees.

We had big dreams and most of them have come true.

This is when I knew that I had something to give. The unique opportunity to start the Very Special Arts theater group came my way. We wanted to create a theater group for people with and without disabilities. Working as a director of the musical shows that we did was my biggest challenge. The philosophy that evolved was first to believe that anyone can dance, sing and perform regardless of their disability. So I made a point not to know what the actors limitations were, I just wanted to know their abilities. Rehearsal time was very limited so the work ethic became very important. I was always prepared with a plan for the rehearsal and I was always ready to change the plan if needed. From the beginning I felt that my energy could help people plug into their own energy. So I gave it all I had! I discovered that all of these people had dreams just like me. They all wanted to know the joy of acting out a story. They just needed encouragement and opportunity and hard work. So we worked hard sometimes just on a few lines or movements. We practiced them over and over until they "got it "and then we did it twice more just to make sure. All the actors delighted in the success of their friends and this encouragement was the foundation for an atmosphere of achievement.

Often we would laugh at how very intense the rehearsal process became. The actors discovered their own abilities and talents. They also discovered the joy of performing and the great reward of applause from a sold out house. So once again, dreams led to encouragement, hard work, opportunities, appreciation, being in the right place at the right time and a bit of luck.

Through out the experience of writing scripts, lyrics, music and directing and producing shows for Very Special Arts (VSA arts) I discovered other abilities and components of my philosophy. I think that I have been blessed with the ability to concentrate, to focus .The process of creating art demands intense concentration. I also have determination and stick to-it-ivness. I don't give up! How could I when the actors in VSA had to succeed. Failure was truly not an option. Confidence comes from trusting yourself.

Now that I have retired from Loudoun County Parks Recreation and Community Services, and VSA arts Loudoun County, I have returned to painting with watercolors. All that I discovered while pursuing theater and music are a foundation for approaching a painting. First I dream. Finding an inspiring scene that challenges me. Then I work at the ideas of how I will interpret the scene and find the right composition. Then I continue to work hard, drawing and painting, concentrating on my first inspiration and following the path where that inspiration leads. I make the opportunities for myself by stealing whatever time I can. The encouragement of my family and friends helps me to follow my new path.

I believe in my abilities and often fly by the seat of my pants, where ever that takes me. My passion for my painting comes from the shear enjoyment that I get from the process. As well as sharing this joy with others

As a woman, I feel that I have had a unique situation. I have had a great deal of happiness. There have been so many hilarious times as well as times of great joy. I have always been supported by my family as a child and now, by my husband, children and granddaughter. They applaud me, encourage me to dream, to follow opportunities, to work hard and give my talents to others.