[easygoingfemme]

Kätzchen, thank you for sharing. I'm glad that you were able to infuse music and education into your life as you did.

Stone-Butch- what is the OPP? It can stand for so many things.

Mine: Hmmm
I was raised in a basic no frills 70s household. I had a library card and a bicycle and didn't need much more than that.

I graduated high school a year early by doubling up. Then went to community college at 16, then transferred to a 2 year college to get my AAS and then to a 4 year where I got a double BA in Women's studies, secondary education, and English literature. I worked my way through college as a nanny, cook in the college kitchen, and a nude model in an art school in Woodstock. By Jr. year I had good enough grades that I was able to disappear from time to time to follow the Grateful Dead so long as I came back and caught up. I always did and I graduated with honors.

I floated around for a little after that, moved to New Mexico, trained to be a birth doula and assisted with births on a reservation out there. Had my own baby at 23 years old and then moved back to NY with my baby to get settled.

From there I've been invested in not-for-profit work serving women and children. I started as a case manager for teen parents in my city and then was recruited to manage our county domestic violence shelter. I've been with the same not-for-profit organization for most of the past 20 years, minus 5 years I took a break and worked from home as a counselor while homeschooling my daughter and then ended up dealing with cancer. I went back to the same organization in 2017 and grew from a program manager to the director of a massive housing program for women and children in our city. We are about to embark on a multi million dollar housing expansion to double our capacity to house women and children who are homeless due to trafficking, domestic violence, addiction, mental health struggles, and poverty.

My rough patches: In 2015 I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. I had a bilateral mastectomy, chemo, radiation. I think I came back strong from that but it changed me for sure. I was on track working and living my life when my brother unexpectedly died in 2019. We had been on the phone just two hours before his heart stopped in his sleep. That changed me in a deeper way that.. I'll never be the person I was before. He was my only sibling so I dug in deep taking care of his children and my parents.

I got into a relationship soon after that A move of vulnerability and fear. We married in 2021. It was not a good choice. My wife became increasingly mentally abusive and controlling. I became a shell of who I used to be and lived in fear. My health was suffering greatly. I left her in January 2024- a middle of the night bolt with a backpack and a friends house to crash in. Soon after that my parents needed help with my father's worsening health and they asked me to stay with them to help, which I did.

I'm rebuilding from that and am poised to buy my house in the coming weeks. It's just down the road from my parents so I can continue to help but also have my space to take care of myself and find my footing again.

I know there will be more struggles ahead but I'm laying down roots for a stronger foundation. I'm active in hiking and in a local rowing/crew team. I cherish my friends and small family. I'm getting back into art and enjoying slow no pressure creativity.

So that's... the first 50 years.