Hello all. Thought it time to introduce myself. I was born in the mid 60’s, and adopted.

Home became difficult, when my mother succomed to the effects of alchol, erasing what she considered failures in her life.

I would escape into the Adirondacks (we had a ‘summer home’-a trailer chained to a tree in Old Forge, NY). 

The mountains were safe. My life was filled with confusion and tears. So I started hiking on the mountain behind our camp, with my dog Toto, sometimes staying out for days-there was an old abandoned camper I had found on the mountain, which was still weather proof, and it became ‘my’ camp. Hey, it was the 70’s. Life was simpler back then.

I met an older Native American, who was also journeying through the mountains. He taught me to track and forage (I was 12), and at night, around the campfire, would bring out this poet anthology book from 1895, and read to me. I learned an appreciation for William Wordsworth, William Blake, Robert Frost, and so many others. I still have the book, a gift when we parted, gold worn off places on the page edges, and rubber banded together, Yet to me, worth so much, in memories and love. He was incredible. We parted the next summer, when his tribe were moved out of Thendara to make room for vacationers.

And if you are wondering, mom was inebriated, so she didn’t miss Toto and me. Dad came weekends-he was an IBM employee (and a WWII veteran of the Philippines).

That’s when I started writing poems, and graduated years later, to writing poems to instrumental music, especially my friend Christopher Franke’s music (one of the original Tangerine Dream members).

I never took myself seriously, and was always a people pleaser, making everyone else’s dreams come true. -Children of alcholics become one of two things. That which they hate and fear, an alcholic themselves, or…out to save the world.

Fast forward to two children, a divorce, becoming a partner, to single once again.  Why?

I had a stroke in 2015, which left me disabled. It has been a long road of recovery, one which I will follow the rest of my life. Not one everyone wants to be a part of, like my partner.

The doctors were surprised I lived through my stroke because where it was located, it wiped out all my “prime real estate”. 

Only 26% of the people who have a hemorrhagic stroke survive. Of those, maybe 4-5 % go on to have any kind of a meaningful life.

I couldn’t speak (aphasia), my cognitive abilities were off (see picture of a tree, think tree, say banana…).

I couldn’t walk, read, write, or crochet.

The doctors said there was little hope.

I said, in my head, “watch me!” 

I learned to navigate with a hemi-walker, and went back to work as a full time substitute/interim teacher after a year.

The kids at school were incredible. They could have taken advantage, but choose to help. They became the teacher of the teacher. I’d known these kids since kindergarten-they were Jr/Sr high school students now. They worked with me with my speach. They would write the teachers instructions on the board, make sure I was following along in the class readings-I was struggling, learning to read again. On periods off, the kids would come and help me with talking, and walked the halls with me. I started an underground (not sanctioned) poetry club with a bunch of misunderstood and ’bad’ kids. 

Because of my stroke, I found my way back to poetry, with the help of those amazing kids.

Covid hit, I was laid off, and my daughter talked me into going back to school. I decided to go for a masters in Creative Writing/Poetry. ❤️❤️❤️

2023, I graduated Summa Cum Laude. I became a volunteer Associate Production Editor, helped write a scientific paper for the Brain Institute of America, and started my career as a Speaker.

I am now an International Motivational Speaker and have been on James Miller’s Lifeology, Brad Walsh’s Empowerography, and more! I have spoken on radio shows (Zoom) in Hollywood, Canada, and Britain. Then, in 2025, opened an Editing and Publications Company, ThunderCrest Publishers, and started writing.

My podcast appearances focus on the stroke, -depression, addiction to pain killers, my triumphs, the kids belief in me, when no one else did.

Not taking no for an answer.

About neuroplastisity.

And my writing, The children’s series, book one, “Tippy’s New Friend” where a lonely dragon (Seren) finds friendship with Tippy (my dog) and Lana, and start exploring. The second, “Tippy Goes to California”, where my friend Christopher shows us around the state.

I’ve also started a Mid-Grade adventure/mystery series, yes, complete with dragons of course.

Then there’s my post stroke journey, poetry chapter books, my historical romance series with a twist,

***I have ADHD and need to be working on at least 5 things or more at once-hence add in crocheting one handed-dragons-of course, and many other things, as well as continueing my love of cooking, and am back into gardening.

Life is beautiful, whether you choose to recognise it or not. It passes by too quickly. So slow down, look around you. Notice things that you would normally pass by-like a flower growing in a crack of pavement, a lonely cloud, a sparrow flitting by, and smile. Compliment a stranger and make their day better. Choose love.