Tamantha Dawn Davis is my name.  I am now sixteen years old, live with my family (mom Peggy and sisters Jordan-14 and 11 1/2 year old Trysta) in Nashville, Tennessee.  Our Nee-Nee Grace (mom's mom) also lives with us, as does our Jack Russell terrier, "Chance".

We used to live in Chattanooga, Tennessee; however, we moved here to Nashville after our daddy Arthur abused us sexually and physically; mom couldn't take any more, so we were forced to move.  Daddy is now in jail for a very long time; I hope he stays there and rots for what he did to us.

It was a very bad time in our lives; we still have flashbacks, for which we are receiving ongoing counseling and mental health therapy.

Since we've been in therapy, life's gotten much easier; however, the memories remain; we still occasionally have nightmares.  I wish we'd get rid of them forever; I hate not being able to sleep at night or thinking about that awful period in our lives!!

I am going to be in tenth grade come fall.  I go to Demonbreun Senior High School, where I had very good grades last year.  I hope this year is a repeat performance.

My best friend is Gemini Sandusky.  I've known Gemini (and her larger-than-life family) for five years now, since we were 11; she's been with me through thick and thin, and she is my confidante, my support system.  She is a terrific listener, and she is a wonderful friend.  I think all kids would be better off if they had a friend like I do in Gemini Sandusky!

I'm also friends with Meredith Valrosa, Edythe Blanchard, and Tegan Ross; but Gemini is my best friend of all time.  We do everything together if she and her family aren't doing something or have gone off somewhere (which they usually do).  We like to swim, watch boys, flirt with the football or baseball players whenever we go to a game, work on our tans, gab on the phone, go shopping, or practice our cheerleading skills.  We also love to go to church; Gemini goes to Christ Community Assembly of God while Merry, Edythe, and Tegan go to Hope Baptist.

I have a boyfriend now.  I've been going with Nate Uberdorfer for six months now; met him back in January, at one of the school dances after the holidays.  We fell instantly in love; now we go on dates just about every Friday night (usually to a movie or out for ice cream at Braum's).  We sometimes go bowling at the local Rock-N-Bowl.  He's really sweet, and he respects me, which is more than I can say about a lot of boys my age.

Seems all they think about is s e x.  I don't want to have anything to do with it; I've signed a pledge at school not to engage in any sexual activity until after I'm married.  Besides, since I was abused sexually as a child, I don't want to have anything to do with sex until I'm good and married or emotionally ready to handle it.

Nee-Nee Grace is in failing health.  She has diabetes, has to take shots twice a day, can't eat certain foods, or else she'll get very sick.  It's scary whenver she has one of her diabetic episodes; sometimes she's ended up in the hospital.  I hate to see her being sick; it reminds me that she's getting older, and I hate the thought of losing her.

Well, that's about all for now.  I have to get ready; we're going out to eat at the Happy Panda, which is a new Chinese restaurant that opened last week.  I love Chinese food!! YUM!!  I can't wait to try out the new place; I know I am going to make a total pig out of myself! LOL 

I will write in here again another day; take care and God bless!

~Love, your friend, Tamantha Dawn Davis, aged 16.