Nelson's Neighborhood

My birthday is next week and as I approach 37, I'm amazed at all the wonderful things I've been able to do and say. I'm also writing this today, February 24, very bittersweetly as this is the anniversary of my best friend's murder. Everything changed 13 years ago when Peyton entered our home in Denver to find a man from a local halfway house waiting in our home. He was a 6'5', 350 lb pound monster and needless to say, Peyton was brutally killed and raped. He received life in prison with no parole and I must say that when they didn't give him the death penalty, I was shocked, but as Matthew Shepard's mom put it when his killers received the same, "At least I won't have to see them every year when they want to appeal their conviction". And it's so true.  I haven't seen his face since 2000 and I'm happy about that. Not to say that his mug isn't burned into my memory...it is. But I am grateful I don't have to make a trip t...

Recently, I had the opportunity to emcee an event for Liza's Lifeline ...a local nonprofit that helps domestic violence victims here in the Lowcountry. I'm lucky that I get the opportunity to emcee a few things in town, but I must say, the event Breaking the Silence Awards for the Zonta Club that benefitted Liza's Lifeline was probably one of my favorites. Everyone that works on these sad cases are true angels. Although I've never been a victim of domestic violence, I have been a victim of violence against women and it truly boils my blood. At the event, I heard stories about women who just wanted to change their life, but unfortunately, their lives were cut short by someone they knew. It broke my heart. However, I felt as if I was meant to be there that night. It made me connect to my feelings about Peyton's murder and gave me a renewed spirit to continue to help other women out there from becoming a victim. So when I received an email today from Liza's Lif...