What you wrote to Susan was so lovely and heart warming, I just wanted to comment.
I've written a book, Sanctuary of the Soul (poems of anguish, healing, hope, comfort and celebration): www.soulpoetry.org
Have also written my memoir: Ghost Child to Triumph (from a child with no voice, to someone who speaks up against injustice)....not published yet. I am humbled and amazed at my endorsements: Elie Wiesel, Wayne Dyer, Nikki Giovanni, Drs. Alice Miller, Larry Dossey, etc., etc.....
Divorced after 31 years of abuse and then abused by a church (spiritual abuse is a wound which can never heal): www.churchabusepoetrytherapy.com
I won a scholarship because of what I wrote about my life and am in school at ge 64! I believe we are here to make a difference.
You are an inspiration to us all Alice. It is nice to hear positive things about our lives on this forum as well. I hope you continue to write, because I know there are so many people out there who are going through what we are and other heartaches as well. That is one thing about women I have discovered in life. We can come together and support each other in so many different ways. I think our emotions help us all bond in ways men will never understand.
Hugs to you, (((Susan))): You are a dear! Yes, no men can ever understand the bond between women....even if we are just words on a screen, we so get it!!