If you really knew me you would know.......
The purpose of this thread is to make us all a little more human and possible relatable to one another. My hopes are that some of the nastiness and judgements that come out of nowhere while sitting behind a computer screen will fade away and we will try to rememeber these words by Plato. "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"
I am the fifth born child in my family and followed 2 sets of twins. My eldest siblings are 4 years and 4 days older than I.
Firefly 
Great thread!
If you really knew me you would know.......
That I lost my parents when I was 27 and 34 years of age, both to cancer. I moved back home both times to help care for them.
I have a child on the Autism Spectrum, so when I am in a store and a noise sets him off, he is not being a brat nor am I being a bad parent.
I go to school full time for Accounting.
I am happily married to an amazing man and have a wonderful son.
Jenn Love this thread idea.
If you really knew me you would know.......
I was born into a military family & we moved alot.
Lost my wonderful mother when I was 23 & my darling father last week - and I miss them both very much!
Got divorced 5 years ago & have been raising my 2 children basically on my own & doing a darn good job at it - (my opinion)
Have a job that I love, family & friends that will stand by me & know that I have their backs too.
Am pretty much enjoying my life, trying not to "sweat the small stuff" - knowing that the good Lord will guide us through.
BLW My son's bio father died at 21, when I was pregnant with him. I was 22. 8 years ago in August. I have since met a wonderful guy who is his "dad" in every sense of the word.
I am going to school for my Master's in Business Administration.
I never want to work in the auto industry again but they are the only ones who respond to my resume. I feel stuck.
I have a great life. Short on money but long on time :-)
Birdie Great thread Firefly, thank you.
If you really knew me, you would know......
I am the adult child of an alcoholic (a very abusive one)
If you are loyal to me, I would do anything for you.
After growing up in the home that I did, I feel extremely blessed for the life I live now - two totally different worlds.
To the previous posters....my sincerest (((HUGS)))
Proud Mom If you really knew me you would know.......
I am blessed to still have both my parents. I guess I didnt really realize this until this thread. I really am lucky.
divorced & have 2 boys, one of which has asperger's. I am super hard on myself (after a situation, I will over analyse and beat myself up that I could have handled better) and I just hope the boys will okay in their adult lives.
I love my job and my extended family. And not too many people I call friends, lots of acquaintances. But people that I think are "friends" usually seem to use me and leave.
Just Asking My 3 nephew's mean the world to me.
I met my biological father when I was 21 and we don't speak anymore. His brother found me about 2 months ago.
I am blessed everyday to have found such an amazing boyfriend.
I have the best friends and family that a girl can ask for.
MichI grew up in an very abusive household and my father finally moved out when I was 21 after I was forced to get a restraining order against him. He died about 4 years ago.
I had my son when I was 19. Everyone around me told me to get an abortion, but I didn't believe in it, so I had him. The BEST decision I ever made. I never went on any government assistance to help care for him, I worked to make sure that wouldn't happen. His father never has had anything to do with him and has never paid a penny in child support.
I have been married for 10 years and now we also have a great 6 year old daughter.
When I was 25, I suffered a massive stroke that left me in bed for months. Thank God, I have fully recovered.
My mother lives with my husband, children and I.
Most of all - I am grateful for everyday I am alive and have the people in my life that I do. I love my town and neighbors and it very much distresses me to see how negative people can get on here. Thanks, Firefly!
Alison I am a twin. Was a triplet, but engulfed it in the womb. I think I got the smarts, but my twin got the looks.
Divorced, and can say I'm glad I got it out of the way at a young age.
I'm very blessed to have my health and the few I can call friends in my life.
Good thinking firefly. Thanks.
If does not apply some of you do know me, when I am not complaining about this that and the other thing. I am the one looking at the beauty in the world willing to stop traffic to cross a turtle on the high way . to joy at the way children play , to hear the pur of the cat as his belly is rubed , to look at a abstract painting and know what it is , to hear music of all types and get the beat to look in the eyes of a women and see the beauty beond the shell , to shake a mans hand an know if freind or foe . you all know my spelling and typeing and grammer is not great do i let it stop me . No
( Come take a walk with me a long the shore, we will watch the shore birds chase the waves.
Smell the salt air as it blows into shore.
Feel the warm sun as it lights up the day.
As the sun has set , the Moon shines its silver light on cresting waves that sparkle like fire flys.
Come walk with me a long lifes paths for to dream is how it could be , so reach out and make it so .)
If you really knew me you would know
Caged Animal Love this thread -
If you really knew me you would know that I am married to my best friend and I look forward to seeing him and my kitty every day after work.
I went to school until I was 26 and $330K in debt, but I realized my dream :)
I don't get along with my mother, mostly because she tries to live through me and it puts a huge strain on my family.
I have lived in four states, and have had friends come and go; have about six true friends and am so lucky to have them in my life.
NotaNJNative If you really knew me you would know.....
whatever is said to me in confidence will stay that way. Not another soul would know.
lola I want to thank everyone that has posted here so far and let you know that I appreciate the "thank yous"
If you really knew me you would know that I too became an orphan at an early age. My father died when I was 15..the last words I said to him were Good-Bye as I left for a trip to visit my best friend who moved that year. I lost my mother when I was 28 and the last words I said to her were Good-Bye and I love you. They both died suddenly in their late 50's 13 years apart. (there was a 15 year age difference). I learned that nothing is guaranteed and don't forget to tell those you love...that you love them. I also learned that we are defined by the roles we play in our lives and that when my 2nd parent died that I was no longer a daughter to anyone.
cowgirl1 Takes FireFlys hand leads her off to a quite place in her soul . wispers to her you are now and forever more their daughter and yet you cant touch them, they are there when you open your mind and as long as you never forget them , and I know you never will ,
Fire Fly I have not been down this path and I fear that day and wounder will i be able to stand that pain of loss . my freind i pass my blessings on to you.
...that my beloved father passed away on a Christmas morning when I was carrying his first grandchild. Although it's been almost seven years I think of him each day and grieve that he did not know my babies. I try to keep his memory alive, though, by talking about him to them. You would also know that I have no regrets, thankfully, since my husband and I shared a home with him and my mom until the end. I am grateful that Mom is still sharing our home and our babies.
If you knew me you would know that my wonderful mother died a year after I was married, then my mother-in-law died that same year just a few short weeks before I had twins. The doctor told me in the hospital that God took away two of the most important people in my life, but replaced them with two more who would become my life. I will never forget his words and how true they were and still are. I still miss my mom and mom-in-law. But my children are my world.
Wonderful thread.
Tanya If you knew me you would know . . .
that I was born in South America and am fluent in Spanish;
that I love very deeply and am passionate when I believe in something or someone;
I am the proud Mom of twin girls - and yes, after losing both my mother (at age 6) and my father (at age 30) both in car accidents, I too choose to think that God took them from me at an early age and gave me my twins to ease the pain;
Thank you, Firefly, for starting this thread;
Thank you, Caged Animal, for the beauty you exude in your words;
Thank you, to the rest for sharing such wonderful things with us.
I was blank before and just wanted to see if "I" showed up this time - testing . . . testing . . .
happy2bhere YaY!!! I'm back ~ if you really knew me, you would know that I actually really do care about things like my name and gravatar ~ lol
If you knew me then you would know....
I had a childhood that makes my husband wonder how I stayed sane (maybe I'm not ;)),
sometimes when I think it can't get much worse or I can't take anymore stress-it does and I can; I'm working hard to have the best relationship I can with both my parents (who are in the midst of a divorce).
I'm having a midlife "crisis" but in a good way.
I really don't like dishonest people.
The last few years have shown what my marriage is made of and it is incredible!
I want to be a successful writer.
I want to have a house with a yard so bad-I'm afraid it will never happen.
I am so grateful for my husband and my children and for the friends who are really like my family.
I am terrified to fly.
I feel for everyone who posted on this thread and my prayers and good thoughts are with you.
Thank you, Firefly.
2Cents I keep coming back to check this thread...much love to those that have and will post here - you are the ones that make this forum worthwhile to me. I get caught up with the drama here as we all have but ultimately it is the "real" people here that I am interested in and would like to know better. Thank you and please keep posting because if you really knew me you would know that I believe that hate is a mortal sin, everyone deserves a second chance ( including me) and I am a work in progress.
If you really knew me......
That I am one of 6 children (3 older brothers and 2 younger sisters) and even though my older brothers are only my half brothers, i do not think of them like that. They are my brothers.
My oldest brother was killed in a car accident almost 9 years ago because some jerk decided it was ok to keep there old metal bumper attached to there car with duct tape. On interstate 75 in florida at a high speed limit it fall off right in front of the car my brother was in. The car drove off and my brother was pronoucned dead. This is why I am against NJ only doing emission inspection because if they had inspections like we used to here in FLorida maybe my brother would be alive today and would have gotten to be here to meet his first nephews and niece!
I was in a really bad car accident 8 years ago (almost exactly a year after my brother died in car accident) and now have two herniated discs in my lower back and have problems with my right side. So I live in pain everyday but the drunk driver that hit me walks around without a care in the world. I am sorry but a repeat DWI offender only gets her license suspended for a short time isn't enough. She caused me to live with life long pain!
I am so thankful to my parents for everything. Especially my mother because ever since I had my kids, she would be here in a second if I needed her.
When I was 18 my life was flipped upside down, my father ended up having double bypass on election day and ended up in the hospital until June of the following year. So after over 7 months months in the hospital my father came home which we weren't sure that would ever happened. He went from being stuck in bed for months to a wheelchair, to walker, to a kane, and finally after over 2 years walking without a kane. During his long stay in the hospital he underwent many surgeries including back surgery for nerve damage and another bypass because of an infection in the valve they put in the first time! During that time period I also lost my grandmother who i was extremely close too! I was forced to grow up very quick to help with my younger sisters. Those 7 or so months we spend our time back and forth to NY Presbyterian hospital, morristown memorial, kessler, and st clares with my father and grandmother. I would fear everyday I would get a phone call that my father past away. I still fear that.
It took a long time for me to be able to get pregnant and stay pregnant but after IVF i was blessed twice with twins! During the
Mommyof3 
Sunshine : ) .... I'm a risk-taker.
.... My family is mostly pilots and entrepreneurs, or pilot/entrepreneurs.
.... I'm really proud of my younger brother, who at 27 flies VIPs/A-listers as Captain in Learjets, Gulfstreams, etc.
.... I moved to Paris when I turned 18 with $500 in my pocket; I'm now bilingual French.
.... I'm an animal (pet and wildlife) nut. But wait, you've probably already gathered THAT! ;-) I think I probably should have studied Biology instead of Psychology. But wait, since I'm a risk-taker, maybe I'll drop everything and go back to school!
Rebecka What a great thread! After reading so many heartbreaking stories, I feel very fortunate that my life has been pretty good. It makes me appreciate my life more and to have more compassion for others and where they are coming from. Thanks, Firefly
copygirl if you really knew me you would know...
i'm a no nonsense type of person...who loves to have fun.
being a parent is the greatest blessing i have ever experienced.
i'm a huge music fan - vinyl, cd's and now digital - yeah, i had lots of tapes but try to find a tape player to use :)
i love playing sports - basketball, soccer, tennis - and all those fun backyard sports like badminton, volleyball, bocce ball; and also bike riding and running.
i am a voracious reader and open to read about any subject. the more sides of a story i can get, the closer to the truth i can get.
i really enjoy working in the dirt which is why i have so many houseplants, so i can garden all year.
great thread firefly.
realitycheck some how my got cut off at the end it
after it says "During the.. it should say During that time I was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder which they seem to think is the reason I was unable to stay pregnant.
.....that I am the oldest of 5 and have always looked out for all of my siblings. I have pushed down girls who were mean to my sisters, and kicked boys in the shins who were mean to my brothers. I still look out for everyone, even if they dont know it. I had my children late, which was good because I am alot more patient now then I was at 25. I would die for my boys, and dread the day that they have their first heartbreak at the hands of a girl. I hope my daughters in law one day like me. I have travelled the world and am blessed that my parents supported all that travel, even if it meant that they didnt know where I was day to day. I try to see the best in people, and integrity means alot to me....and I am stubborn and sometimes get stuck on matters of principle.....but at least I can look myself in the eye every morning! I am lucky to have many loyal and loving friends.....my oldest friend and I have known each other 42 years! Life is very good to me and for that, I am grateful.
LVMomOfBoys ....that my husband and I met each other because our exes were next door neighbors and best friends, we hung out as doubles all the time, and after we broke up with them, we got together years later:)
....I have no tolerance for young girls that dress like they are 18+ or the parents who allow it. A 12 year old girl should NOT watch Jersey Shore.
....My first child was diagnosed with a kidney disorder at birth, and at age 10 months she went into renal failure. Literally, an ambulance to the ER and she was in cardiac arrest for 30 monutes. The doctors told us she was gone. A doctor who was a "per diem" was the one who resuscitated her. He is forever our angel. She began dialysis the next day, and continued for 9 months. She was transplanted with my left kidney on my birthday, in 2007....nothing is worth more then that day:)
....I LOVE the Twilight Saga:)
If you really knew me you would know.....
I grew up an only child.That at 5 years of age my parents divorced and I spent most of my life living with my mother and my grandfather. My grandfather was the most important man in my life, he taught me so many things, and always made time for me, I owe to him what I am today. I have a 9 year old son, who entered my life when I was just 23. His mother walked out for a while and I was a single father and raised him from 4 months ontil the age of 3 when his mother decided to take on a more prominent role in his life. However, it is a battle every day with her to see that she does the right thing by her son, and it seems my efforts are futile. I have had many ups and downs in my life. Death has taken awaysome very important people in my life, but I take what they taught me and apply it to my life and pass their wisdom onto my son. I was an engaged man last year, up until my fiance walked out on me ended up with my good friend 3 days later, and had a baby less than a year after she left. The universe then sent me a girl from my past who I had known for years, and we began a incredible relationship. Up until everything in my head and all the hurt that had happened to me came out, like I was a ticking time bomb and I forgot how to treat her right, show her that I love her, and basically ignored her because of all my stresses. Luckily she has given me a second chance to prove myself and I hope this time I never forget and one day I will call her my wife. Only time will tell, and I have learned that you cannot fix other people or their problems. A person can only change because they want to. Also no matter how strong you think you are and how easily you think you can let hurt go, nobody is immune the feeling the pain of damage someone else has done.
Maxdout,
I was through the same thing..I kind of held my past to my present boyfriend and he also, thankfully gave me another chance..The past always haunts you but we can learn from it and move on:) Good luck to u
Firefly, a risky venture but good thread.
I had a wild ride for many of my younger years (leave it at that)
My dad died when I was 24 before I could say I'm sorry.
My life since has been spent making amends for all the rest.
I am husband to a wonderful woman, loyal to a fault to those who know me, an entrepreneur, an artist at heart and soul.
Other than my family I love wildlife, our cats, Tai Chi... and I attend a Bible study group almost every Friday morning to add to my perspective of life.
Point taken Stan.
My hearing loss started interferring with my day to day life when I was about 24 or 25. It ranges from moderate to severe in different decibles which means the spoken word can be very difficult to understand. I can only "hear" about 56% of what is said to me. My brain works overtime trying to decipher it and if it is out of context then it is nearly impossible. It cannot be restored through surgery and even the most sophisticated hearing aids fail miserably. My hearing loss was caused by German Measels and a sustained high fever when I was a young child. Hearing aids are not covered by health insurance and cost thousands of dollars. Most people when asked to repeat themselves get annoyed - mistakenly thinking that you were not listening to them. I have had many people over the years make a joke out of it.
Firefly,
It's not something to make fun of..Hearing loss runs in my family. My maternal grandmother, her sister and my mom..My mom lost her's in her 30's and I fear everyday I will lose mine. I follow every trait after my mom. She has a hearing aid but Im sure she can't hear out of either ear although she won't admit it. She has always had bad sinuses and had to get her ears drained many times.
If you knew me then you would know....
Even though they can drive me nuts at times I am the luckiest person in the world for having the best parents ever created
I am absolutely petrified beyond belief to fly, but I would go skydiving again in a heartbeat
Even though my current house is fun, sturdy and warm, I cannot wait to sell it and move out of NJ. Nothing bad about NJ - I am just really restless of living in NJ for 41 years. I am tired of it and I would like to know the feeling of living somewhere else and to experience life and excitement again.
I have had by far the worst 16 months of my life starting last May: death of loved ones, destruction of and rebuilding of an incredible relationship, loved ones going through Hodgkins Disease, Leukemia, major surgeries, the loss of the best dog ever to grace this planet, lost a job, gained a job, no money to show for any of it,
I used to dance and model on TV for 3-4 years during the late 80's-early 90's.
I am personally 2 Degrees in the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game
I can be a very intimidating or tough person to deal with, but if you put on "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" or "A Charlie Brown Christmas" I will be the biggest kid in the world and laugh the entire time watching them
And naturally, as you can figure out by my name, I love anything and everything that has to do with Halloween
halloweenguy Firefly, email me if you are interested in finding out about cochlear implants. My daughter has bilateral implants and is profoundly deaf. Hearing aids would not have helped her one bit.
colette If you really knew me…..
You would know that I’m happiest around animals I just enjoy being around them…..
I try to do everything I can for other and never put myself first…..unfortunately I care a lot about what others think and say that a lot of times it has held me back. I wish I wasn’t such a chicken and would take risks in life. I take everything that happens to me very personal which is a flaw I would love to get rid of. Hate not working since I’m an addicted to working. I couldn’t wait to get my working papers when I was younger. I say whatever is on my mind whenever I think of it…..which has gotten me in trouble from time to time.
I’m grateful to have both of my parents in my life and love them both to death. I love seeing them and spending time with them. I miss my one Great Aunt so very much she was an awesome person who taught me not to judge people, go out of your way for others, and enjoy life. I think about her every day. I have a great older sister who I look up to and sometimes even feel jealous of even though I know that’s stupid
I feel older than I really am…..I don’t relate to a lot of my friends I grew up with because of this.
I’m still very young but can’t believe how much my outlook on life has changed in a couple of years
Nosila Nosila if I didn't know any better I would have thought it was me writing your post! Now I have to think of something different to write.. Lol
Shay Well I had to really think about this thread! Its hard to reveal things of my life to people I know. (and some that I dont) so here we go.
If you really knew me you would know I am #2 out of 5 girls. My father was my stepfather BUT refused to call me that. He was my Dad and I was his daughter. My half sisters reminded me that we were not real sisters, everyday of my life. When my Father died my life changed dramatically. He was the glue to our family. I only talk with my older sister(we shared a Dad). I am estranged from my Mother and 3 sisters for reasons for another thread.I have raised my niece since she has been 13. I call her my daughter. I was sexually abused by a Pastor in our church BUT still believe in God!
I am a very loyal person BUT have a tendency to trust everyone only to get hurt over and over again. I work hard even though I suffer from severe pain from Multiple Sclerosis & Crohns Disease.
I am thankful for my husband, children, my inlaws and my grandchildren. My MIL was more a mother to me then my own mother and feel God sent her to me for a reason. Now she suffers from early stage of Alzheimers and it breaks my heart.
and most of you know this already , I LOVE HACKETTSTOWN!
Christine that like FireFly, I too having hearing loss that runs in a family of 8. I lost my father last year in June 2009 and that was easily the most difficult experience I've ever had to go through. But that through having him in my life, I find inspiration to become a better person everyday and make him proud. I've never been without a job since I started in a family business (irish shop) at age 13. Because of my hearing loss and speech impairment I was thought by teachers not to be able to succeed into college. I made Dean's List at the County College and graduated from Rutgers College after choosing to not attend the Business School and now back in school in pursuit of a Master's degree. Kind of like Nosila, I consider myself "an old soul in a young body" since my outlook on life come from very basic principles taught through time that a lot of people my age today don't seem to grasp. Oh and also because I tend to like older music 50s, 60s, 70s more so than some of the junk today. I might come off as aloof sometimes but I'm actually a pretty down-to-earth guy...
ComputerSharp If you really knew me:
You'd know I am a big softie, and a huge champion of the little guy. In grade school I routinely stepped in and was bullied in place of the kid who ate paste and picked his nose. You're welcome Joel, wherever you are!
You'd know I picked my husband out when I was 16 years old. It took him a few more years to accept that fact, but he came around. We've been together 9 years, and we just had our 3 year wedding anniversary August 26. :)
I want to adopt one day. It's my biggest life goal. I think it's the most meaningful and important thing a person can do with their life.
A grade school math teacher once told me my math skills were so poor I would never go to college. I am still awful at math, but I am working on my Masters degree.
I am the most determined person you will ever meet.
I was an only child until I was 8, when my sister joined me, and 10 when my brother came along. We are VERY close, but I am more like a 3rd parent than a sibling.
Sandy If you really knew me you would know........
The details of my life are quite inconsequential... very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds- pretty standard really. At the age of twelve I received my first scribe. At the age of fourteen a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically.........
i was an only child of an Italian mother and an Irish father..i was born in Newark in 1951 "down neck" as they call the Ironbound section..we moved to West Orange and i went to WOHigh School there..my parents seperated when i was a baby..my mother just didnt want to be married afterall and relied on the elderly couple upstairs from us in Newark to pretty much raise me..they were related to our family somehow and they were the most loving people i remember from my earliest memories..it's unfortunate that my mother wasen't and she remained that way untill she dies at age 52 of lymphomic cancer in 1975..i did not know my dad but i understand from my Uncle that he was a good guy who tried to make thing work w/my mother and he always wore a handkerchief in his suit pocket..he died when i was around 13 in 1963 and thats when i finally met his side of the family..at his funeral..i've lived in alot of places..my mothers family always called me a Gypsy..i've had a very colorful life..VERY!! I'll be 60yrs old in March 2011 and God has been very good to me..i can be too outspoken but i will always tell you the truth..if you are my friend i am loyal & always there for you..i dont have enemies,i try to work out dissagreements & seek to understand rather than be understood..not easy!! i color my hair red and need to loose 20lbs..i love my cats, my cockatiels and i take care of my 85yr old Aunt, my mothers baby sister tho she does not live w/me..i am not a depressive type i donot smoke or drink and i am sober almost 8yrs now..i have several tattoos (hence my low IQ :0) i work pt w/my friend who has a cleaning service..i have an eclectic style..Flea mkts, yard sales,thrift shops and i love the change of seasons..ok, im outta steam..great thread Firefly!!! Thanks!!
Ginger, you probably went to HS with my mother. She grew up in WO and was born the same year as you.
Tracy Tracey, i just sent you my email address maybe i do know your mom!! There was WOHigh School and Mountain High..im from Tory Corner section..went to Edison Jr High after Our Lady of Lourdes down on Eagle Rock Ave. RSVP!!!
thanks mommyof3 for reminding me of this thread and perhaps someone wants to add to it so I will Bump
I am thinking this was the thread CBGB was looking for but could be the tell me about yourself one
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