Beginning with my parents and their love and devotion for music as a child I observed my mother singing and playing her acoustic guitar hours on end. In our church, she shared her gift of voice and music with our parish. I witnessed how she truly touched others with song. In the mid-70's, my brother would blast Led Zepplin, Aerosmith and Peter Frampton records from his room. I fell love with the sounds of the guitar - especially the electric guitar. I played flute and piano and sang in our church folk group and in chorus at school. I spent hours writing down lyrics to songs.

In the years 1977-1979 our lives were changed forever. After visiting a deli with a large group of kids from our church, my sister Katy was hit by a car and she passed away. She was a few days from her 11th birthday and I was twelve. Being witness to the accident resonates within me and the others who were there that day - 29 years ago. At her funeral three days later, our next door neighbor, husband and father of three boys, died in the parking lot of the church from a heart attack.

We still grieve the loss of Katy and our dear neighbor.

Two years later, my brother Jimmy was killed in a drunk-driving car accident. He was 19.

Our family was devasted to say the least, but our faith in God and the support of our church/parish helped us to get through these tragedies. Being then fourteen, and a now "only" child, I had no counseling - it was different then, people just keep quiet about it all. I was determined to be a normal teenager and I forged on to be just that. When family asked if I was alright - I just told them that I was. Music was a mainstay for me spiritually and it was my therapy. I had developed many fears and anxieties -especially in the year 1981 when I was sure that I was going to die as well. When I went to college in upstate New York (Cortland), it was the first time I was among people who didn't know me and the family tragedies. I often told people that I was an only child, rarely sharing my true story. (Song "Name" by the Goo Goo Dolls - I was haunted by this song as it spoke to me so personally).

Fast forward to the year 2000.... Now 35, married with three beautiful children...teaching 2nd grade and am in a fast lane of life....kids, husband, house, work - Groundhog's Day for Moms who work...on a virtual merry-go-round of life. My life was stressed and I was feeling totally exhausted. The Goo Goo Dolls music comes into my life...quite coincidentally - and long story as coincidences can be...it happened again and again...until I took notice. Once realizing a connection (after seeing VH-1's Behind the Music), I went out and purchased all of the GGD music I could find and I started listening backward....back ....back. What I found was for the first time EVER - that there was someone else out there in this world who thought like me...and coincidentally, this person had a similiar life experiences - almost parallel in many ways. (Including family addictions I have chosen not to mention). I felt uneasy, uncomfortable - yet relieved to know that I was not alone. In my case, I was literally unravelled emotionally by John Rzeznik's lyrics and songs - I now look back on the experience as healing. And I hold a true respect for John.

Over a period of time, I became the me I wanted to be - more spiritual, more the real person I had always held back from being. I now work for myself, allow myself to be creative and I serve as a positive friend to many people. I have developed friendships with people who are like-minded - people I wouldn't know today if it hadn't been for our connection to music.

I'm among many wonderful people who feel that the Goo Goo Dolls can and will bring positive change to others. The combination of this trio with John's gift of songwriting, Robby's positive mission and Mike's healthy balance, assures me they are on the right track.