how awful that people should say bad things to each other but we all do I guess. DH is almost completel tone deaf, but if he sings softer he hits a lot more notes (his enthusiasm is the biggest problem!). MAYBE... just thinking out loud Anhata... maybe your voice wasn't especially 'fashionable' to be a little husky or whatever, but maybe your pitch is okay. It can also depend on the type of songs you sing I guess - maybe your voice is nicely suited to church music and lullabies but perhaps less so to rock music that you may have been singing when your mother commented. I'm not talking specifics of course, but maybe it's more about the music being suited your voice, rather than whether you have a particularly good or bad voice. Most people have average voices which sound good some days and less good other days, but which could probably be trained up. Maybe that's the answer... if you like singing you might consider seeing a voice teacher to see if they think you have any potential - more people do than you'd think.

on a side note I think DH was a little stunned at my volume the other day. I've developed what you might call an energy efficient voice for dealing with children. If I can make my voice carry really loud and really clear up the stairs over the noise of the kids then I save myself the effort of going up there. I have an uncle who's an opera singer and he doesn't have a soft speaking voice at all, and DS usually bellows instead of talking too, so there must be something genetic in there. If my kids are running towards a road I only wanna say 'NO' once, not run after them to be heard.

As for the job Anhata... I wish I could offer you one because the applicants I've had are just appalling. Admittedly it isn't a super job with stunning pay but I wonder how some of these people manage to live a whole day without accidentally killing themselves because they're so dumb. Chances are that many employers will have seen FAR FAR worse resumes than yours - even if yours is only average compared to some it might still be worth sending in. So you don't make a shortlist - at least you tried. I'd say give it a shot. One thing only is guaranteed: if you don't put yourself out there you'll never find a job, and certainly not one you really want. You don't know the person at the other end so who cares if they shred your resume. They don't know the real you so it doesn't matter. Their decision doesn't really affect who you are at all; it isn't even much of a reflection of who you are. It's only rejection of one part of you, not the whole you. GO FOR IT!!!

Kerri.