~Toddling in terror.

Part of my "early childhood development" occurred in Israel. From late 1974 through early 1976, that's where I lived. Basically, ages 5-6.

That time period, especially '74 (I looked it up), was not a good time to be a child in Israel. Not that it's ever really been a good time to live in the Middle East, no matter how old you are.

I can step back from it and say... "wow, that sort of environment would really mess with a child's head, especially if they go from American society, to Israeli society for a year and a half of crucial development time, and then back to American Society." Then I realize that I'm basically living proof of that statement. True, there are a zillion other factors which contributed to my fucked-upness, but 1974-6 Israel is a big one.

I never felt that I could relate to people I met who were "abuse survivors" in the same way I could relate to Veterans. I guess that it makes sense. I just don't have any stripes for my service. Just the ones I put there with razor blades, I suppose.

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