Author's Note

Judith Corro was born in Panama City, Florida. At the age of seven, Corro was introduced to her first button accordion. Her godfather had thought it would make a great present, however, after several nights of Judith replacing sleep for music, her parents came to the opposite conclusion. One week later, Corro’s dreams of becoming the next big name in the accordion-playing world were snuffed by her parents. They had planned everything in order to ensure the travel of Corro’s accordion while she’d been at school: from her hands in Panama City, to another’s in Marfa, TX. A place where at this very moment, Corro imagines, someone lies suspended on a hammock while enjoying the rambunctious notes coming out of the instrument.

After this incident, Corro drove her bicycle to the nearest gas station and bought a packet of Marlboro Reds with her fake I.D. It had a particularly mature and effective picture of her. Coming out of the store, however, she realized someone had taken the training wheels from her bike. She noticed an elderly couple standing nearby and asked them to give her a ride. When they asked her destination, Corro answered with an “As far as you are willing to go.”

Corro hitchhiked across the U.S during the next five years. She was twelve when she came back to her parent’s home: An embroidered bag on one hand and an accordion on her back. She was barefoot.

Judith Corro is currently a student at Loyola University New Orleans and will hopefully graduate as a Psychology and English Writing double major. A feat that supposedly means she will now be certified to be a professional adult. On the other hand, a survey study based on the votes from Corro’s roommates, parents, and relatives says otherwise. She spends her afternoons alternating between reading books and playing her accordion.