"Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." ~ Henry Van Dyke
By all accounts (and some extant recordings bear this out), she wasn't a very good singer, but she didn't let that stop her. She enjoyed it, and she was determined, and she performed at Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1944, when she was 76 years old.
Asked to compose her own epitaph, she stated: "Some people say I cannot sing, but no one can say I didn't sing." To which I say, "Brava! You go, girl."
Knitters may or may not be singers, but we can (and should) be fearless when it comes to our projects. Remember, it's only sticks and string, and you're the boss of it. If you need inspiration, laminate her photo and put it in your knitting bag. (Click the picture at right for a larger version.) I think she'd approve.
I came across this post because I have a Google alert for Florence Foster Jenkins (I'm writing a book about her). I'm also a knitter, and I promise you, she would approve of her photo serving as inspiration for creative pursuits!
ReplyDeleteGo to YouTube and search for "Florence Foster Jenkins Queen of the Night". You'll understand the level of inability with which she was blessed.