I don't mind sharing, you guys feel like family. My story is too long to tell in depth here, but when Jazz said his brothers would cover for each other "no matter what", it just hit a nerve with me. In short, it was child abuse (I was only 4, my sister 6) from our oldest brother and went on for 2 years; then when he went into the service, we thought it was over. Now we know that never changes. God only knows what he did overseas. He was married 2 times, 3 children with first wife (he did the same to his youngest 2 we found out much later), then he finally got caught when he messed with a step-grandchild and went to trial in 2001. He destroyed a lot of people and the judge told him he might as well have killed us children who suffered, our lives were so shattered. So many people hurt. I sat with the family who was prosecuting; some of my family testified to his good character and caused a terrible rift for years. My mother died from pneumonia from going to see him in prison, waiting outside in the damp air. Some people tried to blame me because they knew I went to the DA and told my story, but they didn't need me at all. I would have told when I was 4 but he said he would beat my sister so I didn't. We are not poor, uneducated, trashy, or anything other than an ordinary family. It can happen to anyone and does every day. I don't know what makes people bend that way. I don't believe in sweeping things under the rug, either. Made me a tough old broad, though and as it happens, I have a glorious life now - soome awful struggles along the way, though. Thanks for listening, the holidays always bring these emotions out in me. Not looking for sympathy, I'm tough now.