Laurie's Journal

 Hello, again!  Happy May 1st! Every month I get scared that I won't have anything to discuss.  Well, May is going to be awesome!   Last month I began deep cleaning and reorganizing my house.  FYI- keeping your home clean and organized literally sweeps the blues and anxiety away-no pun intended!  This month I will be continuing my stress-free quest by cleaning and organizing my closets.  By the time it comes to seeing my papa in person everything should be ship-shape. Anyway, I bought a book from Amazon called The Memoir Workbook A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Brainstorm, Organize, and Write Your Unique Story by C.S. Lakin.  I sent a copy to papa, who is also working on his memoirs.  This  book really gets your juices flowing when it comes to writing about yourself. In addition, I bought (for me, not for papa) Poetry 30 Day Challenge   and I downloaded another 30-Day Challenge that is sent directly to my inbox. I figure ...

 So sorry it's been awhile since my last entry.  I've been in a depressive mood and I didn't find writing that appealing.  I have so much material for my memoir entitled I Dream of Purple Skies .  It 's how I lived in rebellion for so many years before I came to Christ.  At the age of 30, I came to my senses, and bottom line, I am not my own Higher Power.  Growing as a Christian, it was difficult for me to completely trust God.  It was through life experience that I saw God come through for again, and again, and again.  Looking back at all that God has done for me, I now have a greater faith than when I was a baby Christian. I don't simply believe in miracles, I live on miracles!  On November 14th, I made contact with my birth father.  We have been talking ever since via phone and text.  He calls me his "Little Angel."He is married to Mama Claire, who is sweet and understanding.  She calls me "Baby Girl."  In all this time...

 Happy December! There is much to unpack here as there have been some new developments in my life this past November.  Let's just say that  I will have so much more to add to I Dream of Purple Skies , my book of memoirs and poetry.  It's going to be a book that is so much more than living and coping with mental illness and how I observe our fallen world through a mentally ill lens.  It's going to be a book about recovery, redemption and coming full circle.  It's going to be a book about intrigue and healing as I have begun slowly uncovering the lies I was told growing up about mental illness and distorted images I was given about my life. This book is going to be mostly about learning to love unconditionally and learning how to forgive human foibles in order to walk into a better, brighter and healthier future no matter what your age. You will notice on my Facebook page how I use it as a cathartic tool in dealing with my mental illness with an edgy sarcasm ...

 Happy October, everyone!  I love this type of weather.  It cool just enough where you can go out with a jacket. This October is kinda exciting for me as there is the upcoming Dodge Poetry Festival this week October 17, 18 and 19.  Joan Baez will be there, and I can't wait to take a selfie with her.  She's the 1960's folk singer/poet who influenced Bob Dylan.   I am also going to visit my half brother Eric, who I found out existed on www.ancestry.com .   Last month my new niece was born September 17th,  My heart is bursting with joy over my little princess Hazel Abigail!  I bought her a sterling silver picture frame for Christmas. Well, I have to get going at writing some more poetry and prose. That's all for now! Love ya!

I don't have many early recollections of mental illness that I could put into words.  I had these profound memories of weirdness, yes, that's what I would call them.  It was like every once in a while getting a shot in the arm with a serum of misunderstood feelings that needed to be untangled later on. Before I knew about the real gravity of depression, I got depressed. I felt depressed. Before I knew the definition of derealization, I experienced it.  I felt myself observing my life in third person.  I was fascinated by my own existence, but from the outside looking in. I dissociated before my therapist explained to me about the behavior. I felt a complete disconnect, sometimes in spurts, and then other times longer.

 It's September, the month of out-with-old transitioning into in-with-the new!  I just created my new Facebook page: I Dream of Purple Skies .  I created the page to start a fan page for my new book entitled I Dream of Purple Skies: A Memoir and Poem Collection  by Laurie Jean Perrone.  I plan to publish it in September 2025.  I returned to love of poetry and performing open mic this past summer in Montclair, New Jersey, where I perform monthly on Fridays at the end of the month in a venue called The Space.  I really enjoy doing it!   I also reserved tickets to The Dodge Poetry Festival (you can Google this on Ticketmaster to reserve a seat) in Newark, New Jersey.  The event is a 3-day festival of poetry talent from October 17- October 19, 2024.  On October 19th evening I will be attending a poetry event featuring Joan Baez, the famous folk singer from the 1960's. You will see these events posted on my Facebook page. Please check ou...