I am a musician and teacher with a love of photography and story telling, living in Birmingham, Alabama (aka 'The Magic City') with my sweet husband, a goofy love big Husky, and a crazy Tortoiseshell cat. I love my life, love my career, and appreciate the creative outlet that writing and photography provide.
I heard them from blocks away as I walked the worn cobblestone streets of Vienna; the bells of Stephansdom, a beautiful cacophony that seemed endless, crowds of people gathered in awe of the spectacle. I am a deeply spiritual person, but not religious, and yet… something about the bells pealing with such joy from the … More The Bells of Stephansdom
Sometimes emotions well up, so fierce and unforgiving, completely overwhelming, a barrage of feelings that I can no longer absorb but I have no choice. Like trying to read a book in a language I don’t understand, the translation is lost and I don’t even know myself anymore. I stumble down dark and winding hallways … More A Sea of Emotion
I am in a pretty dark place today and I’m not quite sure how to shake it. We had over an hour meeting via Zoom with Dan’s neurology team, followed by Dan doing 2 1/2 hours of cognitive testing. The poor guy was exhausted after all of that, so we went out to enjoy a … More Navigating the Unknown
Sunday, June 26th I am on a plane sitting next to my best friend and duo partner, Diane, as we make our way to ClarinetFest®️ in Reno, Nevada. This will be our first gathering of the International Clarinet Association in almost three years thanks to Covid. We are hoping for a fun and drama-free time, … More On Finding Peace in Pieces
When his memory begins to fade, fill my heart with gratitude for the wonderful years we have had. When he looks at me with tears in his eyes and sorrow in his heart, give me compassion and empathy. When he is frustrated with himself for new-found clumsiness, give me gentle patience. When his pace slows, … More A Prayer to the Night
I have been searching for a beacon, some sign that will guide us through this madness into some sort of peace, restless though that peace might be. Maybe it doesn’t exist, perhaps my heart only wishes that it did and I am living in denial. Perhaps instead the world will be devoured by its corruptness … More Beacon
My best friend and duo partner, Diane, and I have been traveling together to rehearse and perform for many of our almost forty years of friendship. Right now we are in the mountains of western North Carolina, enjoying a lovely cabin as we celebrate the end of Diane’s third battle with cancer, rehearse for our … More On the Aging Clarinetist
I was using an app on my phone as a metronome in a lesson in my home studio yesterday when a message popped up from my cousin, telling me that our last living aunt, Aunt Lila, had passed away. She was the wife of Mom’s brother, Ernest; a strong woman with a wonderful laugh. My … More On Mother’s Day
I swore to myself that I would write and post something last weekend and the weekend before that…but it didn’t happen. I have begun so many posts that fizzled or languished away in my drafts folder because either my brain freezes up or I am totally focused on the myriad responsibilities, deadlines, performances, and whatever … More On Silver Threads and New Beginnings
For so long I thought that being different was something to hide. I learned to blend in, no matter what it cost me. Blending in was safe, no pressure to pretend to be anything special. But… blending in is inauthentic and the older I become the more I want to be authentically me. So now … More Stand Out
The View from Here 