A mother remembers

It happened several years ago, but sometimes it seems as if it were yesterday. It was the night a stranger broke into my home, stabbed me multiple times and left me for dead. My son, a little boy at the time, witnessed the entire thing. He was in the room when it happened. I was nine months pregnant.

The stranger had tried unsuccessfully to rape me. He didn't attack me right away. I spoke with him for 20 minutes, trying to talk him out of what he had planned to do.

The young man broke in through the kitchen door. When the noise woke me out of my sleep, I got up to see what was happening. It didn't dawn on me to be afraid.

The young stranger told me that he had been sent to kill me. I kept him in the kitchen - out of my son's view - because he tried to rape me.

I think the stranger was afraid. That's why he allowed me to talk to him for 20 minutes. I don't think he was prepared to face me because I was supposed to be asleep. Also, I was calm and gave no appearance of being afraid. As I talked with him, I took careful note of his appearance and prayed to God.

After 20 minutes, the young man lost his patience. He shoved me into the room where my son was, then knocked me to the floor. Then he started stabbing me in the top of my head. By the time it was all over, I had 17 stab wounds in my head, face, neck, arms and hands.

The stranger did not physically harm my son, who had the presence of mind to remain still until he was sure the stranger was gone. Then my little boy ran to the phone to call police.

I lost consciousness for a short time. I woke up just in time to hear parmedics say, "Oh, my God, she's pregnant!"

I was rushed to the closest hospital, where I was stabilized. Then I was transferred to the hospital where my doctor was on staff.

Because I was pregnant, I was hooked up to machines. Some monitored me, others monitored the baby. The doctors said that if I weren't pregnant, they would have operated on me immediately because a stab wound in my neck disturbed them. The doctors decided to wait 24 hours to see if the wound would get better. It did.

Seven days later, I gave birth to a large, healthy baby - my daughter.

There was a lot of activity for the next several days. A police investigation was underway. Since I was working as a journalist at the time, I became headline news. The news wires even picked up the story.

Five days later, police officers told me that they had arrested two people. One was the young man whom I had identified in a photo. The second was my daughter's father. Police say it was a murder-for-hire scheme.


tags: abuse, domestic violence, relationships, naomi-usa, the journey to naomi

About men

From time to time in recent months, I've been thinking about men and romance. I haven't dated in years. Perhaps I've been thinking about men more often because I wish I had someone who would "take care" of me. I've been wishing for that since I was a little girl, but I've become quite adept at taking care of myself.

I love men. Really. And I have lots of male friends in my life. In fact, for as long as I can remember, my male friends outnumbered my female friends.

So what's going on with me? I finally have to admit that I'm protecting my heart. I made some really bad choices in men when I was younger. I respect my former husband, and we remain good friends. However, my ex was not husband material.

My last romance was a long-distance relationship. It ended in January of 1999. The man was someone who had been my friend since I was 14. I was quite happy with the relationship. But the guy got it into his head that I needed someone closer to home. He made the decision to sever our relationship without consulting with me. I was furious.

I've been asked out by men over the years, but I've never gone. Up to now, I haven't felt ready to let a man into my life.

There has been one man who, under different circumstances, could be my soulmate. But he's married with kids, and I don't mess with married men.

Even though I've been single longer than I've been married, I apparently have that "married" look. In fact, a man told me that once. Ever since then, I've been thinking that I really need a makeover!

Some women are really into the physical attributes of men. Generally speaking, I could care less what a man looks like. My celebrity "crushes" include Hugh Jackman, Hugh Laurie, Tommy Lee Jones, Yaphet Kotto, Gene Hackman, Sean Connery, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Jimmy Smits, Richard Gere and Sidney Poitier. At the top tier, however, are Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Clint Eastwood.

The only men who attract me are the ones who engage my mind and exude confidence. I think smart, confident men are sexy.

Will I date and/or marry again? It's possible, if it's the right man. But first I have to get over the fear. Next...I have close friends who insist on screening the next potential "love of my life."

My male friends tell me that they feel sorry for my next husband. I haven't had sex in years. My friends say I'll kill my new husband on our wedding night!


tags: men, Love, relationships, naomi-usa, the journey to naomi

Update

I think I'm going to do a better job of posting regularly. I just finished three weeks of house sitting for a friend. It included taking care of her cats and her garden. I am not a gardener.

The casino is keeping me busy. My body is getting better adjusted to the long hours on my feet.

More later. Until then, best wishes to everyone.


tags: personal, the journey to naomi

For the romantic in you

I just ran across a sumptuous love poem that I think you'll enjoy. I just melted when I read this. And it even comes with a beautiful photograph.

Check out Mona Lisa Overdrive on Lovers Anonymous.


tags: love, lovers, relationships, love poems, poems, naomi-usa, the journey to naomi

Let's talk about love

In many ways, children are much more genuine and articulate than adults when it comes to talking about love. We grownups can lose our spontaneity and freshness when this topic comes up.

A group of four- to eight-year-olds were asked the following question: "What does love mean?" Their answers might surprise you.

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"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca - age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy, and she takes a sip before giving it to him to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together, and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
Nikka - age 6


tags: love, friendship, children, inspiration,naomi-usa, the journey to naomi