Publisher's Synopsis
One woman's journey of life, love, healing, and awakening.
"You're gonna end up barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen," was my father's prediction of the lofty heights my life would reach. The likelihood of this outcome wasn't apparent. I achieved good grades, and my report cards showed glowing teacher feedback. My interests included school musical productions, sports, studying, and writing. I spent my lunch breaks in the library playing chess and devouring books by Tolkien and Asimov.I suppose he thought once sex came into the picture, I would fall into some sort of sex spell, sending the trajectory of my life on a downward spiral. I knew he was just being nasty. He was an abusive man, even when he was sober. Our mother did not live with us, so we had no protection or female role model.
I was ten when my older sister informed me, "When we turn sixteen, we can legally leave home and not be sent back." I counted the years. When my sister turned sixteen, she came into my room and said, "I'm leaving." I was confused, but I could see she had packed all her belongings. I cried as I watched her walk down the driveway and take the taxi to freedom. When my Dad arrived home from work, he asked, "Where's your sister?" I told him what had happened. He could tell it was a surprise to me as well.
A year later, it was my turn to escape. I wrote a letter to my mother disclosing what was happening under my father's roof. Days later, as I was leaving the school campus, I saw her standing at the big rock with my grandmother. They had come to retrieve my little sister and me. They took us home to gather our belongings. I left that cruel man behind, claimed my freedom, and never looked back.
My life quickly became a spiritual path dedicated to the pursuit of self-inquiry, self-awareness, and emotional healing. Ironically (and unrelated to his prediction), there never was a pregnancy, although I do own an extensive collection of shoes!