It is interesting to be named for a woman so associated with motherhood.I have always felt such a kinship with her.A woman of pure virtue, a woman of beauty, I always dreamed of playing her on stage, singing songs about her, or being discovered by an artist, certain that I am the very vision of her, and must be the model for his painting.
I also dreamed of and gloried in coming motherhood, from childhood even.I have always been, profoundly, a future mother.
As I grew older, I knew this to be my chosen path, more important than any career.College was for growth, and development of talents and interests, and to a lesser degree preparation for a possible income.
Surely I would have many children.Why bother waiting?All I needed was the right man, someone I could share every bit of myself with and one who desired children in the way I did.What a glorious future!
(This pause is for laughing/eye-rolling etc.)
Now, my hopes are so solid in comparison to my girlish dreams.They are more specific, more based in reality.I watch friends planning on having a few children giving birth right and left.
We, the little family with grand plans, wait, wait, wait.
Somehow Barren Tree is more a companion, than tiny seedling.
And Mary…Mary!
My hero, my guide.
For the first time in my life, her story gives me pain.
The beautiful, transforming words, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb…,” prick my heart.
If you're not familiar with Alanis Morissette, you can listen to the original here.
And in case you wanna sing along, here's the karaoke version:
(Spoilers ahead)
"Byronic"
A young man brooded alone Waiting for someone to speak to his soul Until here you come a quiet fool And before you know it into his arms you’ve flown And isn't it Byronic... don't you think
Then a man shows up on your wedding day Your dreams are shattered cause your fiancé Has a wife in the attic that he’s hidden away Who would've thought... it figures
No matter what you do what is right You pack your suitcase and tell him goodbye He’s so confident that you’ll do what he says But you sneak out in the middle of the night And isn't it Byronic... don't you think
Cause the man showed up on your wedding day Your dreams were shattered cause your fiancé Had a wife in the attic that he’d hidden away Who would've thought... it figures
Tall, Dark, and Handsome face, doesn’t mean that it’s alright When he won’t give you space, and has arrogance to match his charm But ”Mad, Bad, and Dangerous” doesn’t mean he can’t love You till the end of time and through all obstacles In your way
A secret cousin who takes you in A random inheritance gives you freedom from him Then you’re hearing voices that change your life Your love’s been blinded by a fire Set by his crazy wife And isn't it Byronic...don't you think? A little too Byronic...and, yeah, I really do think...
When that man showed up on your wedding day And dreams were shattered cause your fiancé Had a wife in the attic that he’d hidden away You should've thought... it figures
Tall, Dark, and Handsome face haunting your dreams at night ”Mad, Bad, and Dangerous” ways telling you he’s no white knight He’s no white knight