In early 2003, I went to the ER with a headache that I'd had for about three months. I was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm (the biggest they'd ever seen, I'm told). Before taking me into surgery, the doctors told my family that I probably would not survive the operation. Well, I just celebrated my fourth "extra" New Year, and things are going pretty well. This was a monumental motivation for me to: 1. marry the man I loved later that year; and 2. make some important changes in my life.

Once out of the hospital, and after I'd been through arduous rehab where I learned to walk and talk again, I attempted to return to my high-stress job and failed miserably. While going through the re-training/long term disability nightmare, I had an epiphany: life's too short not to do what you love. Folkommotion was born then.

My whole life had always been about music - it was my friend when I was lonely, my companion when I was happy, my solace when I wasn't. I'd had a terrible childhood, and music helped me make it through. I used to lay in bed at night, listening to the radio and dreaming of a different life. As I grew older, I stepped out into the world, taking my love of music with me. I have written a backyard music column and music reviews for The New Times, concert reviews for The Note, and CD reviews for The Kansas City Blues News. I have three music-related blogs on the Mystery Lyrics website, where my husband writes about the blues roots of rock music ("Hitting Rock Bottom").

Folkommotion is all about the acoustic music I love, and while I'm not making any money from it, being able to do this for the acoustic community makes it a success.