From my earliet memories I knew I was different. AS a child I did not feel safe being different because nobody understood me. NO I wasn't retarded,blind or autistic,not deaf or schizophrenic,just born with an extremely sensitive temperment.

My childhood was frought with fighting parents,violence yelling and being terrorized by oldedr siblings..BEing sensitive I learned how to retreat and literally leave my body.AS soon as I discovered books I retreated into the world of fiction,literally climbing inside the book and sharing the adventures within.

School was an irritant.always having to fit into someone else's box,always having to do what the crowd did. I began befriending misfits and became good at rescuing others.My girlfreinds were either physicallly disabled(in early school) or rebels in middle and high school.I was painfully shy around boys,and so spent many nights pretending my own scenario with a handsome prodoucer with me the actress and singer. The knight in whaite satin still hasn't appeared,but thats ok now.

I discovered music at an early age,and began playing piano and composing.When I would go visit my grandmothers every weekend,she would tell wonderful stories.I felt safe there.

Growing up I didn't understand nor care for the crudeness and lack of sensitivity in the world,and I found it diffiicult to embrance many of society's values. In college I hung out with the artists and theater people.

Entered adulthood with a set of ideas about marriage and family.A man would rescue me from myself,and I would raise children the way I wish I had been raised.The first didn't come true,the second did.  I had the sensitivity to know my babies needs and respond to them,unlike my own experience as a baby. Now all grown,my kids frequently come home to visit,and we are close.

And now I have grandkids,and I can let the little girl out to play with them.THeir love is pure,without condition,and they are true to themselves,as most little children are,before being contaminated by society.

Because I had many learning differences,was totally unmechanical,I believe in a multisensory approach to learning.I have seen how the public schools try to ram every child into a box,and then complain if they dont learn.The system is broken.  The very bright kids can rise above this and learn on their own,as two of mine did,but any child with a learning difference falls through the cracks. And one of mine did that,too.

I came into my profession at 40,music therapy.This work enables me to work independently,and  teach or conduct sessions based on my intuition as to what the client needs. I see each client as an exciting challenge,and the figuring out what approach to use based on their individual strengths is exhillarating.Unlike music education,which teaches toward a finsihed performance product,music therapy is all in the process itself.All people can make music in their own way,and it is all acceptable to the music therapist.THIs boosts self esteem and can rehabilitate many brain functions due to injury.

Even in our world culture the values are based on the survival of the fittest,who can get the most bang for the buck,and turn a deaf ear to the sick and suffering all over the world.How these people can sleep at night is beyond me.

So I am a champion for those who are different in any way,for hidden treasrues lie beneath,if one only takes the time and effort to look and bring them out.

I march to the beat of a different drummer and I am proud of it now.