I loved Trudge's Open Call last week.  I read blog after blog containing beautiful words, and I knew mine would not be the same. You see, I came from the darkness,  and I have been fighting for the light all my life. I thought it best not to participate until I got a "PM" yesterday. It was from an OS blogger called "hugs, me". This is what she said,

"I've read where you say you cannot do this Open Call. I know you have shared a lot on this site but.. If I were a guessing woman I would think this is something you know you can write, but either care not to share it, or admit it to yourself. I'm not judging, there just must be a reason."

           The Blog below is dedicated to "hugs, me".

I am from a family that was never here, nor ever there. A father that had no qualms about leaving small children alone. A father that never stood up to someone who hurt their child. A father that was as black and white as the above photo that I removed the colour from .

I am from a family that the same father burned all the pictures of his family after his wife died. This lone picture with the charred edges is the one that blew away, and layed under the Blue Spruce tree.

I am from a childhood of emotional ups and downs, pills, doctors, and hospitals.

I am from a home that declared no one had mental illness in their family, and never would. I believed them, and spent years trying to find the  construction plans to my life.

I am from a life of believing all the words from the magic men that came into my life. They left me swinging alone on my trapeze, and then I fell into the muck they left for me.

I am from a life of creativity. I always walked down a different road than others, and was crucified for doing it.

I let the others carry their identical crosses, while I painted mine a bright pink and stuck my tongue out at them.

I am from the land of the ridiculous where words of anger, and stupidity sucked up all the room in a chair for a good deal of my life. I had no room to sit,  so,  I sat on the floor and cried, instead of looking for a solution.

I am from the land where the war was almost lost. The land of the bleak, and no exit.

I am from sickness and from death. Death took my family, and then creeped around me and tried, but I fought it and won.

I am from red auras that people see around me all the time. Sometimes they take my hand, look into my eyes, and find peace.

I am from a former life. I was told that I was a master soul sent to this earth one last time to get it right. I will absolutely get it right this time.

I am now from a new country simply called "changed life".  A life full of happiness and smiles.

I am now from from the land of words. A land that is not filled with offers of printed books nor dreams of Editors Picks. I was told today by strangers that where I walk is no accident.

They told me  I am here to listen to people, and tell their stories .  Today, I finally found out what I was meant to do.

    I am supposed to write about the beauty of life and tell it to others.

Images and words by Linda Seccaspina 2010

Today's snack is lemon cheesecake by Sweet Adeline in Berkeley.

Below this picture is  Samuel and "Sooner Mom". They were photographed in vocal chorus singing today's video at Sweet Adelines. Got to love it, and them. Can you hear them singing? I swear we had a "Glee" moment.