Following her retirement from the National Ballet of Canada, leading ballerina Veronica Tennant demonstrated her many other talents -- as a choreographer of dramatic dance, author of children's books, teacher, and television producer. In 2001, she marked her mother's eightieth birthday with a typewritten letter of acknowledgement and admiration.
November 16, 2001
My darling Mumma--
How do I distill into the written word -- into the limits of this card, what you mean to me?
I think of how you took me to ballet class when I was 4 in England -- how you established from that age, how important my education was. Within a week of our arrival here in Canada in 1955 -- how you took me to ballet class -- fathoming that this -- DANCING -- was of such urgent importance to me -- education again, making great sacrifice -- enormous decisions of personal forfeit, so that both Gillian and I could have the very finest of schooling at Bishop Strachan. And for me subsequently The National Ballet School -- how you drove me to and from ballet class -- which in those earliest years were in the grungiest parts of town -- how you supported me through that persistent back injury in my graduation year -- never once -- as others did suggesting I not dance -- How you arranged for my exams to be written in bed -- to go to Jersey and then London to rehab & consult other doctors -- how you "covered" for me when I finally gained entry into the National Ballet Company and then sprained my wrists so badly that I couldn't attend my first rehearsals for Romeo & Juliet -- "Oh she's just fine Miss Franca -- yes -- yes -- she'll be back soon--" meanwhile you were dressing me, brushing my hair -- I couldn't accomplish anything without your help.
How you nurtured, loved, supported and believed in me -- encouraged, and yes -- pushed -- but only taking the prompts from me -- always allowing me to "call the shots" Strong personalities -- 3 flowering in the same house -- my not understanding until I was much older - how truly extraordinary YOU are. Doris Tennant is the fountain of youth, proof of positivity, orginator of generosity, the inventer of a Mother's love -- Doris Tennant is my Mother -- she is a modern woman a dreamer a creator an original -- it's because of My MUM's talent that I gained entry in to my 2nd career at the CBC -- she was there first -- she opened doors always putting her 2 children first. My MUM has JOIE -- SHE HAS SOUL -- she loves LIFE -- she bubbles and gives and it's perfect that amongst her closest friends -- all who have been touched by her -- we can share our gratitude, our amazement our love DORIS -- MUMMA -- you have no equal -- you are the best.
(Veronica)
Excerpted from The Book of Love Letters by Paul and Audrey Grescoe. Copyright 2005 by Paul and Audrey Grescoe. Excerpted, with permission by McClelland and Stewart Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
