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About Me — Calling Back Meredith
I am a woman embracing her flair for the dramatic as I reclaim the lead role in my second act of life.
I joined Medium to hone my writer’s voice while working on a memoir about my midlife journey. Finding that not everything I want to say fits neatly into a narrative arc, I am “taking ten” to expand into the essay scene.
One of my earliest memories is being called Sarah Heartburn referring to the French early film actress, Sarah Bernhardt who has been described as the most famous actress the world has ever known. I vaguely remember feeling hurt when that nickname was invoked with sarcasm or becoming self-conscious when told, “Stop singing so loud.”
Fast forward to college where I sang soprano in a prestigious choir and played lead roles on the stage but majored in a “real” profession. I married a man who tamed my emotions with, “Don’t be so dramatic,” or “Life is not like the movies, Mere.” I learned to dim my light, bury my discomfort with a part-time career, and experience joy by shining the spotlight on my half-dozen kids.
In the aftermath of the 2016 election, I became an activist, found my political voice, and connected with a gaggle of wise female mentors. With newfound energy and confidence, I found my way back to the theater, learned to…
