[juanhacko]

I too had a very miserable childhood--Not childhood as much as my early teen years.
In my case it was too many parents (6).
I would have been really miserable more of the time if it hadn't have been for my dogs. They were my only contact with a happy world.
My senior year of high school I moved from a small, chicken-shit, Country school to one that had over 600 in the senior class. It was like a miracle--If I didn't exactly blossom, life still became a lot better.
I'm old now--but I don't feel old. I've managed to survive alcoholism, addiction, coming out as a homosexual.
And thanks to a couple of 12 step groups I've never been happier in my life.
Good luck to everybody!