1950 – Spring I was quite adorable.
1950 – I’m showing Daddy I can play a record on the record player. Then on that same afternoon IT happened.
1950 – Holding the kitten and my body was still hurting.
1950? 51? – As my mother moved my feet apart, I felt remaining pain and then a flashback.
1952 – Great Grandma Toosie said, “There’s the look.” Great Grandpa Freddie went and got his camera to take this picture. It was my 4th birthday.
1952 – On this day, as he was setting up his camera across the driveway Great Grandpa Freddie said, “Pay no attention to me. Go back and sit on the bench the way you were.” My great grandparents had seen me crying on the bench right outside their window.
1952 – I’m back on the bench in the sun under the trumpet vine like Great Grandpa Freddie told me to do.
1952 – I’m crying by the cow pasture fence and someone wanted to take my picture.
1952 Summer – A close up of me as I am touching the chain of The Autumn Swing.
1953 – I’m standing swinging out over the swamp reliving the down gravity feeling of my first ride on The Autumn Swing.
1954 – This picture shows the face of anger in me and possibly with a thought of using a stick as a weapon.
1958 – Around this time I used to scratch and bite myself and didn’t know this was me when I first found this picture.
1988 – For good reason I felt protected by my mighty cat pictures on the walls of my bedroom. It’s the same bedroom where Jesus held me.
1994 – We were getting ready to leave, for the very last time, a beautiful family home in New Jersey I’d learned to love. I’d been dealing with my anger coming up and I remember feeling desolate and alone in this moment.
2026 – I feel very thankful for how far I’ve come. It’s been quite a journey.