My life has been amazing to say the least.
My mother was told that she had to quit smoking if she wanted to carry to “full term” the baby she was expecting; that baby was me. Mum was a chain smoker at the time. She had given birth to 5 living babies and had miscarried 4 by the time she was expecting me. The doctor was right to advise her to stop. And so she did; and I came to be. There is another little miracle to that tale. Her willpower to quit wasn’t so strong and so she made a solemn oath to pray 3 rosaries a day if she was able to do it and so when a healthy, baby girl was born, she gladly named me Mary (after Mother Mary) with Rose as a middle name. Rose must have been Mum’s favourite flower because my sister’s middle name is also Rose.
Growing up as number 6 out of 7 siblings was tough. There were days I stood by the window, peering up into the sky, waiting patiently for my real parents to take me home. I never believed I belonged. But apparently I did belong. Apparently I was the “odd one out” in this family but I was nonetheless, definitely a member of this family. Sigh!
The years seemed to drag on although I filled them with intrigue, wonder, adventure and fun. I was “different” so I may as well embrace my uniqueness. My siblings didn’t hesitate to poke fun at me or to embarrass me at every opportunity. I was constantly reminded by Mum that I wasn’t special and didn’t possess any special powers. You see, I was able to see into the future, I was able to see spirits who wandered about our home, I was able to do a few things that were not considered normal but which Mum was sure would disappear if she convinced me that it wasn’t possible or even “allowed”.
I studied as much as I could; and loved every moment when I was adrift in the pages of a novel or some other book that offered secrets and untold knowledge. Life continued, and I ended up studying Hotel Management in Switzerland. I was so blessed to have had that opportunity. I really was. I cherish the 2 years I spent there and hope to one day return with my children to the beauty and natural wonders of Europe.
I was a single-mum at 22 when I gave birth to an absolutely adorable, intelligent and very sensitive baby boy who grew up to be my best friend. I married at 32 and had 2 more beautiful children and was a single-mum again at 39 when I divorced my then husband. This decision further set me apart from the rest of the family. I didn’t follow the “rules”. I was always going to stand up for what I believed-in and putting up with less than the best for me after having been through what I’d been through, wasn’t going to happen. I couldn’t tolerate being treated with disrespect and I sure wasn’t going to allow my husband to get away with that either. I wanted a partner, an equal, someone who “got” me.
My life has been incredible throughout and I cannot even begin to do it justice in a blog. I had survived the most unthinkable of injustices several times over. I overcame debt and loneliness. I overcame heartbreak and fear. I overcame every challenge that contributed to creating An Incredible Life. If anyone can lead you to create your own version of “Incredible”, I believe, without a doubt, that person is me. Stay blessed, stay beautiful.
