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I
was born in America, in Chicago Illinois. At seventeen, the man who
was my mother’s husband tried to kill me. I had to flee the city
as he was searching for me with an ice pick in his pocket, to kill
me.
I
travelled to Philadelphia and stayed with one of his sisters and her
husband. More trouble... her father-in-law was just as lecherous.
Once again, I had to change my environment. Rather than cause harm
to my uncle and aunt (who were innocent of the matter), I pleaded
lack of adequate space as my reason for leaving.
I
went to live in Washington DC. Although I was quite welcome there...
I had come at a bad time. My uncles and their wives had
previous plans to go on a vacation. I ended up staying at a Women's
Residence while they were away. It was meant to be a temporary stay.
I found I could manage quite well on my own so I did not move back
to their house when the returned.
Being
severely mature for my age opened many doors for me in the nation's
capital. Most people believed I was between 25-28 years old. Even
the police would escort me along their beat when I wanted to walk
home from the supper club I frequented.
I
met many super stars and hung out with them during my stay in DC.
People liked the fact that they could trust me and I was a good
listener and friend. In turn, I was constantly being invited to
affairs and introduced to more celebrities and dignitaries. Life was
grand!
Finding
that the dust had settled at home, I went back for a visit. This led
to me deciding to join the Army. At first I wanted to jump out of
airplanes. I was talked into changing my mind by a recruiter.
He thought I was too lady-like for such a task. Its was a
well known fact that mother had brought us up to be ladies, even in
the mist of the worst war torn area of Chicago.
To
gain a sense of independence, I decided instead to take 2 years
unassigned and go to Europe. As this was not commonplace at the time,
the Army didn’t seem to know what to do with the four of us who
had taken that plan. First our orders said we were going to Ft. Lee,
the to Ft Eustis, then Ft. Lee, to Ft Eustis… to be seamen.
Eventually they changed the orders altogether and sent us to Ft.
Knox to be OJT Tank Repairmen. This too was erroneous. I was given
the choice to get out with honours because I had fulfilled my
180-day promise and the Army was having a hard time completing their
part of the deal… or I could choose whatever else I’d like to do.
I chose to become a Military Police. Orders were faxed to me in
Kentucky and I was out on the next flight.
I
had a few days leave which I spent with my friends in DC. I then
reported, as ordered to the Military Police School as stated in my
orders. Problem again!!! My MOS Code was wrong… I ended up in
Signal School. It took 5½ months before it was straighten out. When
I finally did go to MP School, my term of duty was about half over.
I had only 1 year left in the Army by the time I graduated.
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At
the end of my tour of duty, I went home to Chicago. I worked as a
receptionist during the day, went to Barbizon Modeling School and
partied at the “Playboy Club” and “Faces”. During this time
my friends were club regulars and Bunnies.
My
next move came at the end of my employment. A friend I had met was
in Chicago on business and asked if I’d like to come stay at her
house for a bit. She was a friend I’d met through and Army buddy,
Pat. Pepper lived in the midst of a beautiful wooded area with her
husband and two daughters in Pennsylvania.
I
stayed in PA about 5 years, different cities. Again, at the end of
my job and my lease, I decided to change again. I had a town house
originally, in the complex I lived. It was too big for just me so
I’d move to a 1 bedroom by this time. My neighbour who lived in my
previous place and I were talking about me being at the crossroads
again. This was on a Wednesday. As we were speaking, I started to
hear NY, NY in my head. I formulated a plan. I would go to NY for 2
weeks. If I found a job within that time, I would stay, if not, I
would return. I called my job and took an immediate 2 week vacation.
By Friday, I’d stored the goods from my apartment and was on the
train platform at 9:00PM on my way to my uncle and aunts who lived
in Queens.
New
York is really such a hard city to “make it” in… if you can be
content with minor successes. The problem comes because there are
solo many choices. In my field of Marketing and Promotion, I kept
succeeding laterally. Each new step up was really a step over into
new uncharted waters…
Eventually
I realized that I could spend my whole life living there and never
reach a pinnacle where I would feel was “The Top”. Life in NY
was about as grand as it gets. I had the “right friends” went to
the “right places”, etc. But one day I woke up and realized that
everything in New York is lateral the “A List”, the theatres,
the restaurants, etc., were all part of a vicious circle. It never
ends… just more and more of the same.
It
was annoying walking down the street and seeing so much wealth and
affluence all mixed in with the dirt, poverty and crime. Physically
you could escape but mentally it was there, everywhere. Fifteen
locks on the doors… constantly being on guard…. Beggars…
Hookers… Dope Dealers, all of them… walking the same streets,
constantly reminding you of the negative side of life. I felt I
needed a new challenge, a change.
Originally
it was my plan to go to Australia and live on a sheep farm….
I
will tell more as time permits. It also depends on your interest in
my stories. Check in with Mind-It.;
They will inform you every time this page changes.
If
you are a long lost friend, drop me a line via my E-Mail address. If
you are a new or potential friend, you are welcome to contact me as
well. I will have a chat line soon (once this is up and running
smoothly);
With
all good wishes,
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