I'm a native of East Tennessee and a lifelong southerner. My parents moved from Wisconsin to Tennessee in the 1950's. I chose music as my vocation, finishing a Master’s degree at UTK in 1985 and from there, I moved to Atlanta. There, I was teaching, working as a staff soloist and singing in various ensembles and in theatre, it all gave me exposure to a wonderful variety of people. That’s one of the reasons that I pursued the At Home With Diversity designation (AHWD). No, I don’t speak a second language but, I am comfortable talking with almost anyone. I think that is largely because of my work in the field of music. I returned to Knoxville in 1996. In teaching, I specialized with preschool music programs, spent several years writing my own curriculum, and I taught private lessons, eventually becoming an adjunct instructor and church choir director. Becoming a realtor as the second page of my life, that was always part of the life plan. My mother was interested in landscape and native plants and for a time, she considered getting her own license in real estate, too. As a nod to her, those big earrings that I wear in my photo, those were hers. I still get out and play at various jams, I’ve recorded a few times as a fiddle/violin player for other musicians, I still love to sing and play in a band on a regular basis. When I do have down time, I enjoy the beach and also visiting other southern cities.