My Hometown

Born November 17, 1958, I grew up in Kansas City (north), in a middle-income family of six kids—four older brothers and one younger sister. The area was called Northtown, and most were proud to be living there. Mostly I spent my childhood days in “the woods”—a large wooded area next to our house on Main Street. I went to the woods for the most part to have a great time with my friends, but it was also an escape from my home life. By the time I came along, my parents were pretty much strapped for cash and would drink their time away usually with one argument after another concerning finances. My bedroom was usually right next to the living room, so I got to enjoy all the misgivings of their anger at life. I could always tell they were once fun-loving people; but I can never recall a fun time that did not end up in a disappointment. I often wondered why I was being subjected to all this—perhaps it was a preparation.

This writing is a journey through faith, mental illness and, most substantially, mental ignorance that was triggered by social and occupational dysfunction of my environment.

How could I combat prophesies and revelations of the past and minimize disturbing people’s beliefs and livelihoods? It came to me to write a book that people are free to either accept or reject on their own terms, in their own time frame. The title My Hometown just came to me (I believe by God and the Holy Spirit) as I was writing my open house speech. I had no idea at the time what I was going to experience, but I did believe an incarnation had taken place, and I wanted to share the experiences with as many witnesses as possible in the most painless way.