I was born and raised on a working ranch twenty-eight miles north of Philip, South Dakota. As a young person, we worked hard and played hard, and events that occurred caused considerable pain to me both mentally and physically. My choices were not the best, and at seventeen, I was much on my own. The saying "I was the only hell my mother ever raised" was probably very accurate. I write this to tell what it was like growing up and to let others know their choices are important to their future.