There. I Said It: Gleek.

If you’ve spent more than five minutes with me, this will not come as a shock. I love the new Fox TV show Glee.

I mean I LOVE it. I am glee-tastic about it. I have never been so excited about anything on television. Well, at least not since my mother let me miss church to watch the annual broadcast of Wizard of Oz when I was five.

Maybe it’s because I was a theatre major in college. Perhaps it’s because my final stage performance included acting, singing and dancing in three-inch heels. It could be because it’s a show I can share with my honey, my sister-in-law and my thirteen-year-old niece. Or maybe it’s because I love musical theatre.

Wait, not love. I am crazy about musical theatre. The last time I saw RENT, just a few months ago, I was in the very front row, so close I’m certain Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal spit on me.

But I think the real reason I adore Glee so much is that I was Rachel Berry in high school. Although I was a journalism student, not a singer, I shared Rachel’s intense, unrelenting determination. I had a single-minded drive that scored me more than a few nerd points. I never went to my high school prom because I was at a State UIL competition for feature and news writing. Seriously.

Like Rachel, I also had a dedicated teacher who truly believed in me. And while I’ve lived many lives since high school, I’ve never lost my determination. It’s served me well as a freelancer and a writer.

So, yes, I am a gleek. And I’m not afraid to admit it.