Echoes From The Shadows
WHERE THE PAST COLLIDES WITH THE PRESENT; ECHOeS WHISPER FROM THE SHADOWS; THEY SPRING VISIONS IN MY HEAD
I SUPPOSE YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY THE TITLE FOR THIS WEBSITE? ITS SIMPLE REALLY. FOR 32 YEARS I LIVED IN THE DARKNESS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. ALTHOUGH THIS WEBSITE WILL TELL PARTS OF MY STORY OF THE DARK YEARS I DO NOT LIVE THERE ANY LONGER, SO IT WILL MOST OF ALL CONCENTRATE ON MY PRESENT LIFE AND HOW I COPE WITH THE AFTERMATH OF MANY YEARS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. I AM A SURVIVOR/ADVOCATE/POET/WRITER/AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER. I AM AN ADMINISTRATOR/ADVOCATE FOR A WONDERFUL ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP. I HAVE BROKEN MY SILENCE THROUGH THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, 'BREAKING THE SILENCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE', FOUNDED BY KRISTEN PARUGINOG. I AM A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR A GLOBAL ONLINE MAGAZINE CALLED, 'O.A.B.I. VOICES UNITED', PUBLISHED BY A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED, 'O.A.B.I. GLOBAL VOICES UNITED' AND FOUNDED BY, SHERNA A. BENJAMIN. I ALSO AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING MY FIRST BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED, 'LIVING WITH DEMONS' HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF 2013. I AM FOUNDER OF TWO FACEBOOK PAGES. ONE OF MY PAGES IS A DOMESTIC ABUSE INSPIRATIONAL PAGE CALLED,'LIVING WITH DEMONS' AND THE OTHER IS A PAGE DEDICATED TO CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND INCEST AWARENESS CALLED, 'CRIES OF SILENCE'. I WILL BE SHARING WITH YOU SOME OF MY PAST, PRESENT, HOBBIES, PHOTOGRAPHS, POEMS, THOUGHTS AND DREAMS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES.
getting to know me
I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. My childhood was a good one with loving parents and an older brother. I was born in 1956. Favorite things I remember as a child were; our Boxer, Bell; all my dolls and Barbies; my chalk board (playing school); my kitchen set; paper dolls; catching fire flies and frogs. Favorite things I remember as a teenager were; boys or course; clothes; sewing; boating; Poncho's cheese dip; McDonald fries; drive-in movies; music, music, music; house plants galore. I was a typical teenager I suppose, never got into serious trouble and enjoyed friends and family both. I finished 10th grade, passed my GED and went to work full time. I was married at 18 and divorced at 19, oh yeah, that one lasted a long time believe it or not! I married my high school sweetheart at 20, had my first child at 21 and my second child at 24, two boys. I have three grandchildren. I love nature and wildlife. Nothing better than spending quiet time with nature; listening; watching; praying and just breathing in the sunshine and fresh air. I love the fresh smell of a summer's rain shower, the woodsy, crisp smell of fall in the air, the silence of a snow filled day in winter and the beautiful blooming flowers in spring. I love animals and have two cats, Boomer and Booger which you will find photos of in the following pages. I love to read; try new recipes; play with photography; research and write. My favorite season is fall; my favorite holiday is Christmas; my favorite color is aqua; my favorite author is Dean Koontz. I am divorced, single and loving it! I've traveled around the U.S. a good bit, living in different places because my ex was in the military. I ended up living in East Tennessee where I am loving the country; the nature out my back door and the scenery. I am retired, disabled actually due to hereditary health issues. I love life and I love Jesus. I am so thankful that through all the dark times in my life and through all the pain, I've always been able to enjoy living and find daily blessings to keep me walking my path.