I always feel envious and hurt when I see the multitude of family photos that other families take and keep of each other. I see their smiles and laughter and obvious love for each other and it hurts deeply to know that I have never, and will never, enjoy those kinds of photos with my family. The few photos that exist were taken during a professional photo session or on a special occasion such as Christmas or first day of school. I have never seen a photo of me before I was 6 months old, and have never seen photos of me with my mother as a baby or young child except for those posted here.

My mother's excuse for not having many photos of me or my family is always about not having money for those photos, but that doesn't explain the lack of photos by other people in my extended family. Was everyone so poor in 1969 that they couldn't afford to take a few snapshots of the newest member of their family? I find that reasoning unlikely and implausible, unless, of course, that newest member was unwanted and unwelcomed.

My family had only 2 family photos taken before my parents divorced in 1980 when I was 12. This photo below was taken in 1978 when I was 10. Unless I obtain other photos from family members, these 2 photos are the only family photos I have of my family together. Don't be fooled by the smiles on our faces. We were very skilled at putting on a happy face when we walked out of our house so the public wouldn't know how unhappy we all were.