Beacon Rock, Skamania County, Washington

BEAUTY AND HELL

Healing is a word I can use
to describe my journey from abuse.

Bigger words
I wish could be found
for to those chains
I am no longer bound.

[Beacon Rock and High Bridge are not only a few of the most beautiful places in the world, they are also associated with the verbal abuse I suffered under my previous wife. She would scream so loud and in my face she would often be spitting on me. "I could just HIT you!" and "Sometimes I wanna KILL you!" were words often heard from her by me about the last years I was with her. That view to Beacon Rock on those picnic tables is where it happened about a quarter of the time as part of the daily attacks. It was a semi-peace zone. She also told me I was good looking, but it was hard to believe because no one that I knew of treated a lover they thought as good looking as she did me. And then, one day, I came to my senses with the help of my wonderful daughter, Felicia, and I left, never to return.

Felicia and I visited these places that summer. All the places where we were both abused and amazed by the Beauty of our surroundings. I wanted to enjoy these places without the psychological or verbal attacks with my daughter who was also verbally abused and still suffers from it.

And then along comes Rhonda, who was, sadly, at work yesterday. But in a way, I guess this was a journey I needed to do on my own. A little washing away and cleaning of old wounds. But yet, so much more, as I am reminded of the Beauty that surrounds me and the Beauty that is Rhonda, my sweetie, Felicia, my daughter, and so many of my fellow human beings.]