In My Own Words

I spent a good portion of my childhood singing songs with my aunt, who was only 7 years older than I was. The range was great, from various Christmas carols to songs from her fake book that she could play on the piano, to songs from the late 70s and early 80s. We’d sit in her shag-carpeted room in front of her extensive record collection and sing “Have You Never Been Mellow” by Olivia Newton John or “Stand and Deliver” by Adam and the Ants with hairbrushes for microphones and rate each other on how much we sounded like the original artist.

But it wasn’t until I was 13 that I concretely understood that music was what I wanted to do for a living. I had been at Camp Treetops that summer and was introduced to the song “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel by the music counselor there. I was mesmerized by the lyrics and harmony, so much so that when I got home, I was determined to BE Paul Simon. I even made my mom buy me a black guitar like I saw him using in the Concert in Central Park, even though mine was used and had cat hair-cobwebs and flecks of marijuana in the soundhole.

That black guitar is now retired, (and perhaps collecting more dust and cat hair in my closet) but my original dream has remained untarnished. I am blessed to find myself exactly where I want to be, always with room for growth.

Things I Like

My dogs, honey, coffee beans, soft blankets and sweatshirts, toenail polish, cute hats, long eyelashes, dishwashers, cantaloupes, sweeping my porch, the sound of rain on the roof, receiving letters in the mail, retro lamps, yoga, being surprised by how friendly people are, freshly changed sheets, cookies and cakes and sprinkles, knitting, fancy kitchen knives, making up a recipe and having it turn out good, memoirs, journaling, the color green, swimming, singing in the car, a great meal, finding a better feeling thought than the one I’m having, deep talks, sunny days, a movie worth seeing in the theatre, flowers, plants, and vegetables.