I started writing poetry the year after I lost my dad in a tornado.  I was 18 and had just graduated high school only a few days before he died.  My mom and youngest sister were both in the hospital for over a month due to injuries and they had to resuscitate my mom several times while she was there.  It definitely stopped my life for a good while.  This May marks the 15th anniversary and it still feels like it happened just yesterday.  My perspective on things now is completely different from what it used to be.  I'm still trying to figure out why I'm still here and what I'm supposed to be doing with my life.  I've always been quiet and soft spoken just like my dad, but also like my dad, I have a short fuse.  Granted it has gotten much longer since I've grown and matured but it was a difficult road.  I finally opened up in a way that I felt comfortable and that was through writing.  My first poem was written for my parents' anniversary following the tornado. I've been writing off and on since then.