“The Feet of a Dancer” (for Melissa Bell Mott, of Anna Mott)

I first painted Melissa Mott and her daughter, Anna, several years ago, when Anna (a lovely and highly promising ballerina) had been diagnosed with brain tumors. I think she was sixteen at the time. The road for the Motts (whom I deeply admire) has since been a hard one. Anna came out from her first operations and was blind. Nothing has been at all easy…not at all, as Melissa continues to care daily for Anna and her other children. Melissa, who is quite devout, keeps no secrets, and is surrounded by friends who have helped as best they can. Anna did, indeed, survive the operations, chemotherapy, etcetera, but is simply not the person she was. Melissa (you can easily friend her on Facebook, here she writes daily of her life and children) wrote this today:“I miss her so bad some days that I can taste the pain in my throat.

But I keep pressing on.

I honor her and all she was by serving and loving the person we have now and I have hope in eternity.

So much crazy going on in this world and many of us are just dealing with a whole world in our own homes too.

It’s so important to be kind.”

That sort of devotion/love moves me beyond belief. I took today off, so to speak, to finish this portrait of Anna as she was just a few years ago. The title is taken by a song from the irish singer, Maura O’Connell, and I mean it, quite sincerely, for Melissa………

The song is at:

“I hope you find the feet of a dancer

I hope you can sing in the rain

I hope you find all the easy answers to your pain;

It won’t be easy, but what can I say?

There will be trouble along the way;

And ‘round every corner there’ll be terror and fears….

But always remember that we’re here

I hope you find the feet of a dancer

I hope you can sing in the rain

I hope you find all the easy answers to your pain;

I hope you find love and affection

I hope you find someone who cares;

I hope you find all the right directions everywhere

Everywhere

There’s a shoulder to cry on whenever you’re alone

You know you can rely on us, you know?

Because there’s nothing too crazy, nothing too dear…

Just always remember that we’re here

Oh, I hope you find the feet of a dancer

I hope you can sing in the rain

I hope you find all the easy answers to your pain;

I hope you find love and affection

I hope you find someone who cares;

I hope you find all the right directions everywhere

Everywhere