Here's what the pizza looked like last night before it was baked.
And here's what it looked like on my plate.
It was gourmet!
And all of that was good and fine from the making of it to the eating of it but today has been not great.
I had a very hard time making myself get out of bed. This is not my normal. I mean, I love to laze about for a few minutes but then I get up and get going. This morning I could not think of a good reason to leave the warm, womb-like comfort under the covers. Maurice was laying on my legs, as if to say, "Hey, be a cat with me. Sleep all day if you want."
I did eventually get up, of course, and I thought about those memes telling us that sometimes getting out of bed in the morning is a feat of almost super-human strength.
They do not lie.
I'd had a dream and it is still pretty sharp and clear. It was about the house my mother, brother, and I lived in in Roseland which my grandfather had built for us. Eventually, the stepfather moved in too, when he and my mother were married which is when the abuse began. Immediately. It's like in marrying the mother, he now had a right to the daughter as well, or least in his own twisted mind.
In the dream I went back and explored it again after having done a brief walk-around it last month when we were in Roseland. I wrote about that HERE.
Unlike on that day when I could see nothing of the interior of the house, in the dream, the inside was accessible, and although everything was a bit dark as if viewed through sunglasses, I could see the terrazzo floors, the pine paneling with its knots and grain and it looked exactly like I had remembered/not remembered from when we first moved in. The bathroom had the same horrid beige tile bordering tile speckled with beige, and the pass-through window between the kitchen and living room had been boarded up. There was someone with me in the dream and I do not know who that was. They seemed to be a neutral presence and I told them about how the terrazzo floor had been created and how Ralph Holzclaw, who'd done the electric wiring, had been there the day they plastered over the walls and he expressed that this was a stressful day because if he'd made mistakes, it would be hard and expensive to fix them.
How and why do I remember things like that? I believe I was about six years old.
So I told this neutral person, this unrelated witness, all of these things as we went from room to room but we could not get into the bedrooms and I was disappointed and I was vastly relieved.
We went outside and where Granddaddy's house had been (and still is) they were leveling the lot, the jungle having been removed, and were going to build some horrible thing there. I was so upset but I knew this was how it is and I felt deep grief.
I have a completely different dream version of Roseland than what it actually looks like and it always involves so much new construction, the changing of the river, and a huge population of people who have moved there and live in those newly constructed apartments and houses and eat in those newly opened restaurants and who have the boats that clog up the river.
I hope with all of my heart that the house I lived in does not become a part of that dreamscape. The brown house. The place that was ruined forever by a man who abused a little girl.
Which brings me to what's triggering me right now and I suppose you can guess what that might be. Do I even need to say it?
Those files. Those e-mails.
Those men.
I would like to say that if this is the thing that brings Donald Trump down, if it crashes the entire travesty that his evil empire has engendered, it's all worth it but you know what?
It's not.
I think about the men who raped and abused and bought and sold children and who have gotten away with it for all these years and I am enraged.
I think about all of the little girls who got caught in this net of horror and were completely unable to escape and what they suffered and how they suffered and how they still suffer and what they still suffer and what they will always suffer and I want to see every one of those men tried and found guilty and imprisoned for life.
And they won't be. Trust me. Some may get some country club jail time but most will slip under the velvet rope of fortune and privilege and fame and influence and the very fact that they are men and you know that's true.
But here's another part of the atrocities- every girl who was bought and sold, every child who was abused and raped had a mother and a father who allowed this to happen. I do not care what stories those parents were told or what dreamy, beautiful lies they were given or promises made. Any parent who allowed their child to fly to that island, to party with grown men no matter their names or positions or status, any parent who turned a blind eye to any of that played a part in allowing it to happen and was a participant too.
This is probably an unpopular opinion but it is mine.
Here's another thing- we all KNEW Trump was involved in the pedophilia but the thing that is going to probably take him down was the fact that he may have had consensual sex with a former Democratic president. That, doing gay things, is more horrifying and disgusting to so many people (mostly men) than what was done to children.
And this is what I've been thinking about today which probably explains why it hasn't been one of the best days of my life.
But I'm still here and will be tomorrow, most likely.
Let's all take care of ourselves, okay?
Love...Ms. Moon


I'm sure that trump had sex with underage girls, children, teens, because that was his addiction it seems, sex. What is it with men and sex? Are vaginas that amazing? Or is it the power over the women and the children that is the true aphrodisiac? trump is a truly weak man and I can imagine him trying to feel powerful by forcing women and girls to have sex with him. When he's dead, I'll spit on his grave.
ReplyDeleteSending hugs and love to you Mary. I'm sorry you had such a horrible day. And I am beyond sorry your stepfather abused you like that. He should have had his dick cut off.
It’s all about power. So many losers.
DeleteMary, take care of yourself.❤️
Carol in Atlanta
I really do not know what compels men (and some women, let us not forget!) to want to have sex with underage children. That is unforgivable.
DeleteI do, I think, understand the urge to have sex. Period. But what is it about men wanting to be able to have sex without any pretense of affection or caring? That drives them to buy sex or buy sexual partners. Is it the power? I really don't know. But I know that women have been viewed as chattel for eons and that is about owning them.
every day I keep telling myself we can do the hard things and it's a struggle but i'm still putting one foot in front of the other. sending love and peace xxalainaxx
ReplyDeleteOh, honey. I know. I tell myself I can do hard things and then I think, "Oh really? And why do you believe that?"
DeleteWe do go on putting one foot in front of the other and I send love and peace to you, too, you strong woman.
Sadly, the abuse of Children and Women often goes unpunished and no Justice seems to ever be the outcome of these depraved Crimes. Especially when the Perps have Money, Privilege and Power. I'm so sorry it's bringing back such triggering Memories for you, virtual Hugs. Those of us who are Survivors of Sexual Assault know how damaging it is and the scars it leaves Emotionally.
ReplyDeleteMen, by the very definition of the patriarchy, have power over women and children in so many cases and even the ones who don't appear to have that or money or privilege don't get prosecuted.
DeleteI am used to being triggered as all women who are survivors of sexual abuse know. I'm sure you do.
I was not abused as a child but came close on more than one occasion. Being very shy, i’m sure i looked like an easy target. My heart goes out to you, Ms. Moon. I can only imagine the horrors you endured. I hope you have better dreams ahead. I too am sending virtual hugs. I feel like all this stress is killing the pedophile in charge so there’s a glimmer of hope that he lives long enough to feel real pain.
ReplyDeleteAfter all of my years being upfront and open about my sexual abuse, I have come to think that it is more unlikely that a woman was NOT abused as a child than was. Even if the family is safe and protective, there are always others around who would take advantage of a child. And even getting close is traumatic and I'm sure you remember those occasions to this day.
DeleteI wish I believed that Tump had any ability to feel remorse or guilt but I don't think he does. If he suffers pain, it will be because his power is taken away from him.
Your "unpopular opinion" is mine too, always and forever. Those parents should be charged along with the paedophiles.
ReplyDeleteI have many days when I stay in bed because I can't think of any reason I need to get up and often fall asleep again. The next day I'm usually playing catchup with all the things I didn't do yesterday.
I tear up my basil and bake it right onto the pizza.
I am certain that there are parents and parental figures who truly did not know about the abuse of their child but allowing your daughter to hang out with rich and powerful men is simply not forgivable in my book.
DeleteI let all my basil freeze! I feel so stupid.
P.S. LOVE the new header picture.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Another part of Florida.
DeleteAs you know, i was abused by my paternal grandfather. I am still filled with rage. I should not have read this for my own sake but to look the other way seems more abhorrent somehow. I wish I could put my arms around you and squeeze you tight.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many wonderful men. We are both married to one.
I am now in the position of caring for my 92 year old father who is dying of cancer and i do it but I feel angry that he didn't care for me when I was 10 years old. Some days I could scream at him but I can't bring myself to do it.
We may be damaged but we still know right from wrong. Take care, Mrs Moon, Mary. Kindest regards. Xxx
And I wish I could put my arms around you and squeeze you tight, Christina.
DeleteI completely understand your rage. I wish I didn't but I do. And although it's probably not good to carry such anger around with us, that very anger is what has allowed us to propel ourselves in continuing to exist. At least that's how I feel.
Have you ever spoken to your father about this? I am NOT suggesting you do, I'm just wondering. I told my mother about my abuse and she never really got past the "I never knew!" insistence. Maybe once she said she was sorry it had happened but I don't think she claimed any responsibility for it happening under her watch.
And yes. If ANYONE knows right from wrong here, it is us.
Thank you for being brave enough to talk about this.
Well I'm obviously way behind on the Trump/Epstein news because this is the first I'd heard about mansex between two presidents! I had to ask Dave what you were referring to. (He scrolls constantly so of course he knew.)
ReplyDeleteI agree that you can't help but wonder where the parents are when kids get ensnared in Epstein-like activities. I just imagine what my mother would have said if I'd proposed flying off to some island with wealthy grown-ups. I realize the parents are often deceived as well, but come on. They must have had some inkling that things were not right. To say they never suspected anything smacks of denial.
When I was a kid, a music minister at our church (a much older man) once proposed taking me and my younger brother to a gaming arcade in Tampa, and my mom said, "Absolutely not!" At the time I didn't understand why, but of course now I do, and she was right.
IF it is true that there is video or pictures of Trump having mansex I am not convinced that it was Clinton who was the recipient. Not that I'm trying to defend him. At this point I'm thinking he's probably a sack of shit too but no one has offered any proof that he was Bubba.
DeleteYour mother did the RIGHT thing. She was strong and she was not stupid. Good for her!
In a related topic- I've never trusted youth ministers or pastors. I don't know what it is about churches that draws these grooming/abusing men but it seems to happen a lot.
I was at a birthday party last night and got talking to one of my kids' friends. They recently had an incident at her daycare where one of the staff had been abusing the kids (thankfully not her daughter from what I can see). I was just as horrified as she was talking about those pervs doing awful things to little kids. Sadly I think it's institutionalized. Maybe it takes a furious dad with a "pewpew"!
ReplyDeleteI doubt it's as institutionalized as you think. People have always and forever abused children, sometimes alone, sometimes not. It probably is no more prevalent than it ever was, but it does come out publicly more often, I think.
DeleteIf you think about the situation you describe with a furious father, you have to consider the fact that he would no doubt be arrested and tried for manslaughter at least and then the child would have the guilt of THAT on her plate as well as all the other stuff.
I would not recommend that although I would understand why it could happen.
What a draining, stressful dream. You know I’m with, you heart and soul. It’s no surprises these thoughts are taking over lately. I do hate to cast aspersions and blame parents, many of whom really have no idea what’s going on. But so many parents DO know and turn a blind eye. I’ve known too many women who have confronted their mothers years later about abuse they surely had been aware of only to be told, ”Oh, that was a long time ago. Don’t dwell in the past.” Seriously? But I shouldn’t be adding to your stress right now. That is one beautiful pizza Ms. Moonsigh!
ReplyDeleteI hate to say this but too many blind eyes have been turned. There are a myriad of reasons why, I am sure, but none of them are good enough for me. My mother virtually told me that she never knew a thing, and yes, that was a long time ago. Meanwhile, the same man was obviously and openly abusing two of my brothers emotionally to the point where neither one of them will ever truly recover.
DeleteYou are not adding to my stress. I promise you.
Sadly, there are mothers who side with the abuser against their daughter, because they have a lot to lose from speaking up. And I do know of one family where the mother was so happy to remarry a man who loved her two young daughters. Until she found he'd married her to get access. But she threw him out and divorced him, so she was a good mom in the end, though naive at first.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry the current news is causing you such grief. There must be many women going through this again.
Yes. And that's another gift of the patriarchy- if women have no way to support their children on their own and the abuser is the only provider, I'm sure that's a horrible decision to have to make. Whether to confront or ignore.
DeleteGood for that woman who kicked out her daughters' abuser and protected them from him. My mother was in a similar situation with my abuser. She was SO happy to be remarried to what looked, on paper, to be a very fine catch. And she had suffered so much depression in the past years that I was thrilled for her and also thrilled to have a father!
Things are definitely not always as they seem.
You and I have a lot in common. I will leave it there.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, Jackie. I really am.
DeleteIt just boggles my mind that the GOP is circling the wagons to keep these horrible activities on the downlow. Megyn Kelly's defense boggled my mind. She has a 14 year old daughter!
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell is WRONG with Megyn Kelly? She should keep her damn mouth shut.
DeleteI don't understand how anyone can defend any of those creeps. I'm sorry you had to live through that horror, Mary.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen, but I am so far from being the only one and I know that and I wish with all my heart that none of us knew what any of this was like.
DeleteI hadn't really thought about the fact that those girls would need parental permission to go to Epstein's island or even to his mansion in NY but you're right. Could they not see how devastated those girls were when they got home? I find it hard to believe that Trump would perform fellatio, receive, yeah, I can imagine that. I just don't think his ego would allow him to be the giver. But if there are pictures? Yeah, that would def be the end of him in MAGAt world.
ReplyDeleteThese men are just disgusting. Can't remember which republican politician recently said that 16 year old girls should start having babies with older men who they needed to 'guide' them. Or something like that. But you know parents in different cultures around the world have been marrying off their 14 year old daughters to old men forever.
As usual when girls are groomed, the ones who are the best candidates often do not have the best family lives. Their parents are absent or too overworked or drugged out or whatever to really see what's going on. The girls (and boys!) crave love and attention and will respond to it eagerly. The parents of the girls coming back from being with Epstein may not have noticed any difference at all in their children. And kids are amazing at hiding things which is yet another factor which increases the odds of men getting away with this shit.
DeleteI find it hard to imagine that about Trump too. But hell. I honestly haven't been able to imagine almost anything he's done so why should this shock me?
I do know that other cultures not only allow but encourage men to take very young women as wives. I wonder if the emotional damage done there is less because it is out in the open and not hidden? I would be interested to hear some research on that if there is any.
We all know who and what the Felon is. It is only the highest office of "President" that continues to protect him. It is all about white man privilege, power, and money.
ReplyDeleteI personally have no respect for women or men who say nothing when abuse of a minor is involved. They are as guilty as the abuser.
I can't imagine how hard life is living with a history of abuse and reliving the memories. You are not in any way at fault, yet the horror lives on. I wish I had answers on: How to stop the pain/horrors of the past?
Well, there's always Bill Cosby's case to consider although even if he wasn't white, he sure had the privilege, money and power. Not to mention he was beloved. And I suppose he was the exception that proved the rule.
DeleteI agree about those who turn a blind eye to abuse.They are guilty as sin.
I'm doing pretty well, I think, in living my life after abuse. It's easier now that it once was. I think I can attribute that to therapy and being open about it. And having the husband I do.
Oh Mary, I can only try to imagine how triggering this must be. I hope you find your peace of mind in your dreams again.
ReplyDeleteAt a regular (and popular) phone-in radio program this morning here discussion also covered the Epstein files etc and there was the ususa back and forth and attempts to not overstep the accusations just in case and what with power and the world stage and so on and then the first caller said: call it what it was (and is) rape of young women and girls, stop messing around. - First, silence, then they moved on to other things.
First, don't worry about me being triggered. It happens and then the mind deals with it the way it always does, which is to say it takes away the sharpness, the plunge back into the emotions. I imagine that it is not unlike what you go through although not nearly as badly. We have good days, we have bad days. We go on.
DeleteThe point the caller made on that radio program is being made here over and over. Call it by its name, goddammit.
Epstein said it himself, "Recall ive told you,, -- i have met some very bad people ,, none as bad as trump. not one decent cell in his body.. so yes- dangerous,"
ReplyDeleteYes. And that is a staggering comment from a child sex trafficker whose entire life was dedicated to evil.
Delete