Stories from a life still in process

Stories from a life still in process

In 1968, when I was 3 years old, my parents joined a cult known internally as The Order. Over 500 children were born or raised in The Order during its 30 years.  I lived in it until I was 18 though I, like many others of my peers, have never really escaped. In 1968 there were just over 100 people in the Order all living in 5th City, Chicago. By 1974 the number of staff had grown to 1,500, working in over 100 Religious Houses (communes) in 20 nations. My parents started the first Religious House outside United States in Malaysia where I was born.

During my first 18 years I only lived with my parents for a total of nine and half years, while also: living in five countries; moving seventeen times; changing school ten times; having six sets of Legal Guardians; beginning my life long struggle with addiction at the age of 10; starting work at 12 and progressing through nineteen jobs or positions (until I was 23); beginning to contemplate suicide as an an option at 12; becoming sexually active at 14 and having 9 intimate partners before I graduated high school and another 4 in the 5 years following; finally finding love and the courage to face my real self and decide to live an unconventional and adventurous life.