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message 1:
by
Michele
(new)
Aug 08, 2011 07:20AM
my coming of age came in 2 parts: the first in May, 1977 when my now ex spouse tried to strangle me (I had to wear a neckscarf for a week to hide the fingerbruises) and then smashed my head against the kitchen floor 17 times and left me unconscious on the floor. I came to with my 8 yr old son crying and shaking my shoulder trying to wake me up. I realized 2 things: 1) I'd rather be an alive bad catholic than a dead good catholic & 2)It was better for my son & I to be poor and safe than middle class and afraid for our lives. The 2nd came when I turned my rage into a movement to create a women's crises center in my hometown for the survivors of rape and battering. I got so much out of that experience. The verbal/sniping war went on as my ex tried desperately to turn my son against me. I was smart enough to just love my son and keep my mouth shut about his father's less than sterling qualities. 34 yrs later and my son and I keep in touch frequently. He calls his dad rarely.
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