Hi! Welcome to the bloggy blog and welcome to my space. I’ve been blogging for several years; about my family, Jewish things, running, things, music things and everything in between. It is my world, my space and I have the freedom to share. I’m known to overshare… which often times puts me in some hot water. But I am authentically, really, genuinely me.

Here is the fun background (the formal version you can read in my about me bio) 

I am born New Yorker and I wear that very proudly. I was born, raised, went to college, got married and spent the first half of my life in NYS. I have a love/hate relationship with Long Island… I wish I was there and I am so glad I am not. It’s crowded, there is a ton of traffic AND it has so many accessible things that I wish I was still there. I grew up with access to amazing culture, opportunities and a really good life.

I have a LOVE relationship with Potsdam, NY and where I went to undergraduate college. There are so many parts of me that want to just be there forever, but alas, it is not the best location for my family in this current phase, but boy, do I miss it… which is interesting, because that was the place of some of my toughest years. 

I have a love/dislike relationship to where I am now; Central Illinois. Also, a place of difficulty, and a place of joy. Where I am now, I chose to be. Where I am now is wonderful for me (most of the time), my family and my current phase of life. We are good here (most of the time). *You can see me hinting that things happen… isn’t that what blogs are for?!

So that’s the WHERE… Here is the WHO:

I am proudly, outwardly, scream it from the roof tops Jewish. I have never hid my Jewishness or desire to be in this space. I am married to a non-Jewish man. My children are raised Jewish (though, they aren’t as in-your-face proud… yet). I was born on Long Island, immersed in all things Jewish, while also being one of very few (two?) Jewish kiddos in my elementary school. In high school, when we merged, I was one of very few and outwardly Jewish students. Through college, I was Jewish, but not practicing in earnest, there was no Shabbat services consistently and frankly, I assimilated to a point. But no matter what, I was Jewish and would eventually find my way back… 13 years after moving to Central Illinois (we’ve now been here over 20 years). Needless to say, it took a while… but that is a story for another day. 

I am a music therapist and pediatric specialist. I didn’t even know about this profession when I entered college, but I am so grateful for stumbling upon it when I did. My professional focus is in pediatrics; in schools, in homes, in a clinical setting and in hospice. I run a business, Developing Melodies, and employ Developmental Therapists and Music Therapists. It is a love relationship with some really large bumps and cracks in the road. 

I am a parent. Ironically, there was a time I didn’t want kids, and a time when I couldn’t even think about being responsible for another human (let alone two). And I have the most awesome, wonderful kids in the world… and while I may sit on the floor and play all day with my patients, I am not the mom who cuddles and sits on the floor or couch.. but I am the parent that will fight like holy hell to make sure you have access to every opportunity you deserve… so much so that it causes me so much anxiety when my children hurt or feel invisible…. another one of those.. stories for another day

I am an ADHDer. I am disabled. I was diagnosed later in life (not without having so many fun road blocks along the way)… at 42 and WOW! What a new way to see and experience everything around me. It’s been a journey, and will be a journey as I learn, grow and embrace my ADHD-life. 

I feel deeply. This is my professional page, but when I said you get the authentic me, I wasn’t joking. I feel deeply and I express in writing. I am smart, I am experiencing, I am learning and I am always, always, always, always feeling. It doesn’t make me bad at my job or unable to do the great work I do… in my Jewish space, in my therapy space and in my professional and lecturer space.

I am awesome. For years, I really didn’t think that was the case. In fact, lots of people told me that was the way it was… they were the assholes. And it took me a long time to realize my worth and how to manage the negative thoughts. So, I may still have trouble saying it sometimes, but I know I am WORTH IT and I DESERVE to be in the spaces that I am in. 

So… here is the blog. It’s a little more insight into the things that are happening in my world. I can’t say that there is a focus… but that’s also a little bit of Meryl… see what I did there? ADHD… focus? Sometimes I think I am funny. I’ve got a lot going on in my life that make me really good at being me and serving the world, so my “blog topics” are all over, just like my interests and views. Buckle Up! Let’s go for a ride.