My Story ( part 1)

This seems as good as any place to start in way of a first post here. It serves as not only an introduction but will help readers to understand how I became the writer I am today.

From the very beginning of my life, the odds were stacked against me. I was never expected to walk or talk due to spina bifida. At the time I was born, not much was known about the condition. Outcomes could vary widely patient to patient, and doctors were afraid to give parents too much hope, preferring to ere on the side of caution. I guess it was a good thing I never heard or understood the grim prognosis for my potential, because I never let it define my life or what I would attempt and the difficulties I would overcome.

I did, in fact, walk and talk. Both happened right on target for developmental milestones. Anybody who knows me or has ever met me will tell you I can definitely talk, I can do it really well. It's probably my strongest skill. One of my doctors captured it very well when he said he believed I could talk to an empty chair. One factor which I believe has driven my love of words and communication is reading. I've been a varactious reader from a very early age. I have always devoured any book I could get my hands on. When I was a child, I read many of the classics such as Little women and Black Beauty. Later I started reading The Hardy Boys mysteries and I was hooked! I read every Hardy Boys in the local library, so many times I lost count and the librarians probably did too! The library was my happy place as a child. I could spend am afternoon there and quickly lost track of time. Some of my fondest childhood memories are trips to the library to pick out books to take home.