2025

You know, I just wrote this long piece about this past year. What happened, the highlights, my accomplishments, etc. And then I erased it. A lot of wonderful things happened. I played The Ryman for the first time. I spent a week in Mexico working on a novel. I spent a week in Texas writing songs and made a record. I had the busiest year in years, juggling touring, teaching university, writing and Mom’ing. I went on a few dates. Met some nice men. Decided to take myself off all the apps, because I’m fine right now alone. And honestly, my schedule is so tight I don’t have time to date. So there were some really exciting things that happened professionally and creatively and a lot of self-realizations.

Here’s what I learned. Dating apps aren’t for me. I went on a few dates. Many were like, “I am retired! My kids are grown! I want to travel the world!” and I’m like, “I travel the world for a living and my kid is 7 and I can see you on Wednesdays and some Thursdays!” One was funny. On the second coffee hang he asked, “How many dates until I can kiss you,” and I said “Nine.” He laughed, a bit uncomfortably. But I knew what that meant to me. I didn’t want to kiss. And with that, I realized, I don’t need a third date. And then I realized, the truth is, I don’t really want to date. I’m enjoying being single right now. I’m happy, truly happy. I got more involved in my church and my recovery meetings. I have a great family - we may not be married, but we are wonderfully a family. I also learned my boundaries. It takes being single for awhile to learn that. I’m enjoying this ride.

Here’s what else I’ve learned. I need to start to care more about my physical health. I need to get back to yoga and start working with weights. My hips aren’t what they were and I want to be a 75 year old who is still doing yoga and maybe even still running. So I hate resolutions, but I’ve made some plans for 2026 in terms of exercise and food.

For 2026? What’s next? More of the same and more. Kenny Foster and I are working on songs for a new duo record we’ll put out. We’re called Salt + The Wound and I’ll let you know how it’s going but I’m very excited about this project. My debut book of poetry will come out in September 2026, so I’ll be on a book/music tour to promote that. I’m crossing my fingers that my agent gets a publishing deal for my memoir, Menopausal Mommy. I really believe in that manuscript. I’m going to continue writing this novel, which may or may not suck, but it’s fun to try something new. I’m writing poetry for the follow-up to The Cardinals. My mother is still healthy and active and I try to see her as much as I can. Huck is thriving and is fun and funny. He loves Cub Scouts and baseball and starts piano lessons in January. I’m starting to work with a new vocal coach in January too. I’m even thinking of getting into some piano lessons myself.

Financially, not gonna lie it’s not easy. I’m not going to be teaching at the University in the Winter/Spring Term, so things will be tight. I RELY on my Patreon monthly income, so if you really want to help support my music and creativity, the best way to do that (besides coming to shows and buying my merch) is by joining Patreon, where I post all of my new work to share in community. Even just $2-3 a month is helping. It still amazes me that I have eeked by all these years in this independent career. Somehow, even when things are scary, a gig shows up and I can make it. I’m hoping that I can work toward a more permanent job at Cumberland University teaching, so I have a solid part-time or full-time (w/ flexibility so that I can tour on weekends) gig there. It would be nice to not be month-to-month.

But I’m grateful. I’m healthy. We solved the Long Covid fatigue problem with meds that work. I’m happy and active and creative again. Huck is a joy. Although he told me he knows the ‘f’ word and whispered it in my ear and said, “I know, Mommy. That’s an adult word.” So we’re there… I have close friends and Huck has a best friend at both Mommy and Daddy’s house.

The best book I’ve read in 2025 is my Amherst classmate Helen Whybrow’s memoir called The Salt Stones. It’s about her being an organic shepherd in Vermont, but it’s about motherhood, marriage, life, spiritual connections to our landscape. It’s an incredible book and I haven’t read anything that’s stuck with me like this for a while. For poetry, The Hurting Kind by Ada Limon. She takes my breath away.

Best movie I saw this year I saw twice and want to see again. Hands down. Hamnet.

Best concert. A tie between Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit at The Ryman and Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings at The Ryman. Both were seeing these artists at the top of their game. Second runner up was Lucinda Williams at The Basement East this month. Rock and Roll in her 70’s. Blew my mind.

Best new artist to me: Ken Pomeroy. Extraordinary writer and singer. I love her. Best album of the year for me was I’m With Her’s “Wild Clear and Blue". I’m a sucker for amazing harmonies. These women are firing on all cylinders. Great music. Great singers. Great songs.

I hope you all have an extraordinary holiday weekend of moving into the next year. It’s just a day. Just another day. But we get to shed 2025 and start again. Isn’t that a beautiful thing. Start from where you are.