Hi! I'm Tara. I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania with my mom, our dog, PJ, and my cat, Lyric. I’m a writer and former special education teacher who loves singing, music, great literature, films, and musical theater. I also happen to be a diehard San Francisco 49ers fan. 

 

As a teenager, I turned on the television one afternoon just as the camera zoomed in on quarterback Joe Montana. When I saw those baby-blue eyes and smile that looked like it belonged in a toothpaste commercial, it was love at first sight. And while I started watching football because of that beautiful boy, it wasn’t long before I fell in love with the game itself. Little did I know that football wouldn’t just be another form of entertainment, it would become my lifeline.

 

More than twenty years ago, I sustained a head injury that caused me to develop Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. Overnight, my entire life changed. I went from working a career I loved and pursuing a master's degree to being bedridden. While my health has been up and down, for the past decade, I’ve been mostly homebound. Living with chronic illness changed everything about my life, including how I watched football and what it meant to me.

 

Watching the 49ers persevere through injuries, adversity, heartbreaking losses, and seemingly impossible odds inspire me to keep fighting my own battle. Their wins give me strength to get through the bad days, and their determination to play full-out through all four quarters reminds me to never give up. 

 

I created Fight Like A Fangirl to share the strength and inspiration I draw from the 49ers. It's for anyone who has ever found hope in a team, a player, a comeback, or a fourth-quarter moment that made them believe the impossible might still be possible.

Because some days, victory means crushing an opponent. Other days, it means finding the strength to get up, try again, and refuse to let our opponent have the final word. 

 

Either way, we fight like fangirls.

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​To learn more about me, check out 49 Things About Me.