I am a Folklorist...there I said it...No, I do not sing the blues or quilt, but I have the pleasure of identifying those who can. Folklore study is my dream career because I always wanted to write. I tried poetry for a while but realized I'd be lucky to ever earn a livable wage. Facing this reality, I decided to earn another advanced degree just for a change in location. Who knew that I'd gain admission to Cornell University! I went Ivy League primarily to ensure myself credentials that might jump start my career. I have yet to mention. I was a single mother with three sons, William, Keith, and Julian (age 3). My thesis was entitled "Aareck to Zsaneka: African American Naming Patterns." And this is how I became a folklorist. For the PhD, UC-Berkley, the University of Michigan, Brown University, Indiana University, all accepted me; but I was not going back to Indiana. I selected the University of Pennsylvania because it was the only one that offered a PhD in Folklore and Folklife and a 4 yr fellowship. To issue a cliche, the rest is history..... "One Grand Noise": Boxing Day in the Anglicized Caribbean World (Forthcoming) University Press of Mississippi https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/O/One-Grand-Noise