I’m proud of who I am

I grew up a little bit of a social outcast in a very, very religious town. A little place in Arkansas, in fact, the very southern Bible Belt. I didn’t exactly fit in. I wasn’t very social. I read books all the time. My nose was always in a book. No one would talk to me. I found out later they actually thought I was a snob. I always had problems talking with people and figuring out what to say and taking social cues. I just never had very many friends and I ended up moving out when I was 15. I started a life on my own.

I used to be very depressed about it. It wasn’t OK with me but I just didn’t fit in, didn’t have any friends. It was very hard growing up but I’ve gotten used to being different. Eventually I went up to Illinois and met my husband. I’m proud of being different. I’m proud of who I am. We slept on the beach last night but we found a place to live. We will do choirs in exchange for low rent. I’m an exotic dancer.

I had a couple stuffed animals. One was a little rabbit that I got from my brothers for a Christmas present. I carried that thing around with me everywhere I traveled for the longest time. It’s in Illinois right now. And I had a rather large stuffed elephant that was given to me by a very close friend. Ellie and Mr. Epps were their names. They provided comfort. I couldn’t sleep at night because I had insomnia. It was something to cuddle up to.