I graduated from the University of the Arts in 1991 with a BFA in Cinematography. Photography minor. The degree that was supposed to send me to Hollywood. And the whole time, what I mostly loved was designing soundtracks and sitting in rooms with musicians.
Mike (my husband of 31 years) was the first artist I recorded, for my senior film project. Turns out he was also the love of my life, which tells you something about how good my instincts were even when I couldn't explain them.
I had real chances to move to California. More than once. I kept saying no and staying in the Philadelphia scene, working with musicians, songwriters, poets, spoken word artists. People with something to say and a voice built to say it. I felt ashamed about that for a long time, like I'd let my degree collect dust. Now I think I was just following the thing I couldn't name yet.
The thing I'm still following.
My mom used to find me by myself, in my own world, singing and dancing. That little girl didn't need a plan. She just needed to be near the music.
I'm not sure what part I play in all of this, except maybe this: I listen deeply. That seems to be what gifted people need most, someone who listens well enough to find what's already there.
"Wonder" is waking up in me again. Something not fully formed yet, but real. A continuation of something I started before I had words for it.
I'm only beginning (again). And I'm okay with that.
If you're curious what this kind of work actually looks like, come find me here:
