This is just a little bit about me and my life... I was born James Dale Briggs on December 21st
1964 to James and Sharon Briggs. I along with my brother Brian were put up for adoption when I was 3 yrs old. Two very SPECIAL people, Dale Edgar and Jerrie Laverne Merwin saw fit to take us into their home as well as into their hearts. I along with my brother Brian were given enough love to drown a whale. I went through some very trying times in my life. I have been places where men nor women need to go and also places where few come back from (in their right minds)... I had problems and dealt with them in a very poor manor.
I fortunately met a woman, Alice Rhodes Carlton, now Alice Rhodes Merwin who showed me that love can work miracles. She helped me through a lot and put up with a lot from me. I also have friends. One friend in particular who never gave up on me. He is a person who could scare the shinolah out of a pit bull. He is about 6' 2½" 250 lbs and rides a bike. (He is the epitome of the misconception of bikers.) I must say this, he is intelligent, caring, giving and most
of all a TRUE FRIEND. His name is Tom Clark.
Back to my wife... (always save the best for last) Alice has a personality that could win over that
pit bull I was referring to. She is a lovely person outside and on the inside also. She has a lovely daughter (Jennifer) who is my step daughter, but I don't think of her as such. She is more of a sister, we argue like cats and dogs (she thinks she is always right when she knows I am) I can
say that because she isn't here right now to read what I am typing...ha ha ha ha ha. Jennifer is as much a part of my life as my wife Alice.
Alice enjoys rock-n-roll, country and love songs. I like all 3 also. Alice hails from Hayes Va. We live in Hayes now, so that Alice could be closer to her family. It is a beautiful country out here.
I am who I am today because of friends Like Tom Clark Jr. and my wife Alice. They say, (and I know) that I am who I am because I made the choice to be, who I am but their help and Love and kindness has been a very big part of who I am now. My life was plagued by TERRIBLE choices and distorted views. I alone made these choices in my life but not "I Alone" suffered the consequences of these choices. I hurt my parents, my brother, my friends and all who loved and cared for me. As you may have gathered, (if you read any of the poems in the Situational poetry part of my site) that I have been incarcerated in prison for quite a few years of my life. These were years when most people are on the way to establishing their future and their goals for the rest of their days. I chose to look the other way and take what I could the easiest way possible. In doing so I turned to drugs, alcohol and disobedience to the law and to God. I chose NOT to be loved because LOVE demanded respect and empathy for others. I could not even love myself, so how was I going to love anyone else? What I really want from my life now is 99.99999% accomplished. I have changed my ways of thinking and have allowed my heart to be open to both give and receive love. The one thing that I have yet to accomplish, is to know that maybe, per chance my story, will somehow have a positive effect on some young, misguided, hurt, angry, lonely or just confused young person, who still has the opportunity to change before it is too late for them. I went through and came out of it a better man, but all to many times the outcome is not so positive. I hope and pray to God that maybe the many miles of destruction, anguish and fear that I chose to walk, were not walked in vain. God has become somewhat of a friend to me, and I know that He has kept me going for a purpose. And I TRULY pray that 1 young life can be saved, due to the pain that I chose to take in my life. All to many times we rush through life not taking or even considering the consequences of our actions. This will and usually does lead to trouble. Please, if YOU are that troubled youth, take some time now to think of what you REALLY want in this life. I am not saying it will be easy, because it won't. I struggle yet today, but the struggle is not so hard now that I know that I am capable of asking for help or capable of giving possibly just a smile to a saddened face.
Please watch out for eachother, and watch out for yourself, because YOU are all YOU have!!!
I hope you enjoy my site and the other sites that it links to. Take Care
of yourselves and God Bless all of you.
This is just a little bit about me and my life... I was born James Dale Briggs on December 21st