"When I started to sing, my mother would have me engaged to perform at the Women's Christian Temperance Union national or annual meetings. I would hate doing this because I wanted to play baseball or go off skiing"

Maureen Forrester's quote speaks to the tension between her mom's expectations and her own desires. Her mother wanted her to carry out at the Women's Christian Temperance Union conferences, however Maureen wished to do other activities like playing baseball and snowboarding. This quote reflects the battle between generations and the trouble of reconciling the expectations of moms and dads with the dreams of their kids. It likewise speaks to the power of music and how it can be used to bring people together, even if it is not constantly the activity that the performer desires. Maureen's quote is a suggestion that we should strive to find a balance in between our own desires and the expectations of those around us.