ABOUT ME

WHERE I COME FROM

I grew up in a small town west of Saint Louis. Everyone knew everyone. A person's word and reputation mattered. When I was little there was no Wal-Mart, no shopping centers in town. One could be forgiven for thinking it was a safe, small community; and that is the image the town showed to the world. My family was not some story book goody goody cliche, it had issues. I lost my brother to a gun accident when I was nine years old. Before I was fourteen years old I encountered no less than three child sexual predators, one of which was convicted, another hidden and protected by the Catholic Church. Needless to say, even in this small homogenous town, I grew up witnessing the best and worst of people. I learned about honesty, and deceit, bigotry, hatred, love, and acceptance.