Our Beginnings - an introduction

Hi my name is Tracy and my husband is John. John and I have led an unusual life, so I have been told.

We have been called strong and brave. We have been told that we are an inspiration to others. If this is how people see us than I am honored. If we inspire others than great. We don't see ourselves this way. We are just living our lives and muddling through the best we can.

John and I have known each other since he was 3 and I was 5. We met because I used to be friends with a cousin of his and we met while I was at her house playing. We were too little to be what I would call instant friends but we grew into the best of friends.

As we got older we grew attracted to each other. Over our years together in school we dated on and off several times. He even made me a ring when he was in seventh grade. He gave it to me and told me someday we would be married and have 2 kids. I laughed at him but I always kept the ring and I still wear it to this day.

When John was 13 he left home due to severe abusive issues in his home. I didn't know the first year he was out on his own but when I was 16 I found out and I left home to go "take care of him". HA, more like he took care of me.

The entire summer of 1988 we lived on the streets together, with several other friends as well. We collected bottles to get money for food. We often lived off coffee and bread. For one whole month we lived in a horse trailer in the woods that was an abandoned hunting cabin.

That summer would be an entire book in itself if my memory was not so bad now. It was amazing and adventurous. We created bonds that have lasted even until today. And we were together even then. We weren't boyfriend and girlfriend but always we were best friends and always he let me know that he was in love with me.

When we got older and realized that we wanted someone in our lives who would love us for who we were and who could be our true life partner and friend, we again found each other.

We have now been married for 18 years and have had 3 children together. He is my best friend still and I am his.