Any survivors of the Springfield, VA Straight here?

[Sophie]

Hi Shannon , I definately remember you and Kelly Walker.  Shoot me an email when you get a chance at  [ This Message was edited by: Sophie on 2005-09-09 19:48 ]

[Sophie]

Kelly?   ...Not sure if I know who you are.... I got to Straight Springfield 1-27-90.  Feel free to shoot me an email if you would like.   [ This Message was edited by: Sophie on 2005-09-09 19:49 ]

[Cleopatra2U]

Kelly wrote:

AND BEING A YEAR SINCE YOU WROTE THIS MESSAGE....i WONDER HOW YOU GOT THROUGH THE LAST YEAR. mAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME THROUGH THIS.

Kelly -- By now it's been like a year and a half...  I left this board (and others like it) because I was dismayed to find so much anger after so many years...  Don't get me wrong, people have the right to feel however they want; but me personally, I don't like to be around the anger.  It does help to know that people understand, though, which is why I came here in the first place, and why I'm back after the topic of Straight came up for the first time in a long time in a recent conversation with a co-worker.  As is usual when you try to explain Straight to someone who's never been there, this person was staring at me quizzically, as if I had just grown a third nostril.  Once again I am feeling the need to be amongst people who understand.

For the past year and half, I've been very busy at work, while still managing to have some semblance of a social life ::birthday::; more recently, I have rediscovered the joy of reading BOOKS ::read::.  I find that keeping myself busy, whether it's by being productive at work or by escaping into a good book (or a beer or three :wink:), keeps me from dwelling on past and present negativity like Straight.

Kecia, Shannon, Heather, -- I remember all of you!  Wow, I'm SO glad to see your posts on here!  I just e-mailed each of you.

Roland -- I'm sorry I don't remember you, but that's probably because I wasn't allowed to look at you, LOL.

Scott -- I'm not sure if I remember you; if I don't, it's probably because of that no looking thing, LOL.

~ Mindi

_________________
Well-behaved women rarely make history.

(I edited this post because it included my e-mail address...  I changed my mind about that...  Private message me if you don't have my e-mail address and want to reach me.)

~ M

[ This Message was edited by: Cleopatra2U on 2004-02-03 22:14 ]

[Therion]

I have a friend that was in one of those
"smoke cigs and make out with the chicks down the hall 30 day rehabs"
 And he tries to relate to brainwashing etc..
people just dont get it.
 And I went through 7 more rehabs and a psych ward after straight...

 I just wish I had been a little older so as to better handle the whole experience...
 Had straight gotten me when I was 16 or 17...I could have really started major shit and enacted
lots of physical violence upon everyone.Like my 1st night in the program when my oldcomers just started masturbating in front of me. Good god.
(Fair warning any of you guys ever pull it out in front of me and Im gonna beat you senseless)

Sick fucks...I never did that shit to my newcomers. I mean jesus :roll:  :roll:

 But alas I was the 2nd youngest and scared shitless.
(by the way I was in Richardson/Dallas...but alas Im a post whore so ignore me)

_________________
Pure intention juxtaposed will set two lover's souls in motion
Disentigrating as it grows, testing our communication
Mention this to me. Mention something. Mention anything, and watch the weather change

[ This Message was edited by: Therion on 2004-02-04 05:12 ]

[Cleopatra2U]

On 2004-02-04 05:11:00, Therion wrote:

I went through 7 more rehabs and a psych ward after straight...

I became a "ward of the state" after I finally left Straight for good in 1991...  Spent time in jail, a halfway house, a group home, and finally a foster home...  All told, including a month-long stint in the juvie drug ward of a Psychiatric Institute before I went to Straight, I spent 28 months of my "formative years" in the juvie "justice"/"rehabilitation" system.  And I still can't tell you whether I'm a better (or worse) person because of it.  *sigh*

I just wish I had been a little older so as to better handle the whole experience...

I was just shy of 16 when I arrived at Straight.  Talk about a way to spend your 16th birthday -- sitting in a shitty plastic chair in a shitty brick warehouse surrounded by a bunch of kids you think are crazy.  (I didn't know the terms "cult" and "brainwash" back then, but I do now.)  Anyway, I don't think age had much to do with it, at least not for me...  It think it has to do with understanding what's going on around you.  None of us kids knew what the hell was going on around us.  If I had known then what I know today...  I would've put up more physical resistance, yes (not as big a deal when you're a 5-foot-ish, 100-pound-ish girl as opposed to most guys, I suppose), but...  I would've fucked with people's heads more.  

but alas Im a post whore so ignore me)

I liked what you had to say(type), Therion, and hope to hear(read) more of it.  So...  NO.   :razz:

~ Mindi

[ This Message was edited by: Cleopatra2U on 2004-02-04 11:42 ]

[Scott D]

I am so confused as usual...I was in from May of 88 til Nov of 89 in Springfield...and I totally didn't know if there was a message directed at me or to another Scott on here. If someone was in when I was or remembers me shoot me a email if ya wish to chat at all or whatever....I virtually lost contact with just about everyone.
Scott Davis
acura5117@yahoo.com

[Therion]

I agree...but I was barely 13 when I went in..
and that was just too young. When I was 16 or 17 I was a hell of alot tougher than I was at 12 and 13. Shit I was the youngest kid there till Greg P showed up.
 But you are right...was crap at any age.Just wish I would have been more of a rebellious teen rather than scared 13 year old.

 I cannot believe they even took me. I wasnt in any trouble..I checked myself in for depression.
I have since contacted the lady that came and lied to us about the program. She claimed total ignorance...(yes I tracked her down...shes still here) She worked as recruiter for Straight but didnt know anything about the program and thus recommended it for non drug using non sex having 13 year old that had self esteem/psych issues.
 Hope she enjoyed her paycheck that month.

[Cleopatra2U]

Scott -- I missed you by a few months.  It's unlikely I'd remember you even if we were incarcerated at the same time...  I don't remember very many guys...  It's hard to remember people you hardly looked at.   ::

Therion -- I knew a girl who was 12 or 13 when she went into Straight.  Her graduation, at age 15, was one of the saddest things I've ever seen...  She didn't crack a smile the whole time, kept looking back at the girls' side, and even shed some tears because she didn't want to leave!  I think it's 'cos Straight was all she knew (totally brainwashed) and she was afraid to leave.   :sad:  You're right, although Straight was not easy for anyone, it was probably harder for the younger ones.

[Therion]

Well either way we are alive and well...and that works for me. :wave:

[Cleopatra2U]

:grin:

[Anonymous]

Hey Kip,
      I don't know if you'll get this message, but I'm back in the area too.  I did not go through Straight (I was the geek that lived down the street from you) but you've always popped in my mind from time to time, and I've been wondering how you are doing.  I've also been wanting to try to get a hold of another friend that was in Straight the same time you were, I think....Maureen M.  Do you remember her?  I hope your parents still live in your old house and that you'll be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, because I'd love to see you.  
Debbie

[starry-eyed pirate]

On 2003-08-26 01:46:00, Anonymous wrote:

"HEY, BACK IN THE AREA AFTER AN EXTENDED STAY IN SUNNY ARIZONA.  GRADUATED FROM5515 BACKLICK BACK IN 87/8. NO CONTACT WITH ANYONE FROM THEN AS MOST OF US WERE GLAD TO GET OUT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.  JUST THOUGHT I'D SAY HI AND SEE IF ANYONE OUT THERE REMEMBERS ME. ALL THE BEST.



KIP MASON

AIM: KMAS611"

I remember you Kip.  Hope you are well.  Pm me if you want to know who I am.

[Anonymous]

hey reid! remember me? i was the first person to make 5th phase in the virginia building! i knew you in that private school!blue ridge boys school!
lol....glad you're doing ok!...yeah,you're right about the "healing" or lack there of.....it's been 26 years since i entered that place down in st.pete....i was #3 from virginia to go down there in '81!.....that was an experience....it was for all of us!you left the place didn't you?
i was newc's with fred on my 2nd 1st phase! he came in just before or right after i was started over!we were newcomers together right from the start of his "tenure" in there!....stillahippie564!.....oh,i still play music and have long hair too.....you should remember me....hip{again}

[Anonymous]

I have a friend that was in one of those
"smoke cigs and make out with the chicks down the hall 30 day rehabs"
And he tries to relate to brainwashing etc..
people just dont get it.
And I went through 7 more rehabs and a psych ward after straight...

man dude...isn't that the f-ing truth? i also have a friend that tries to place himself in the same shoes with all of us! he was in a 30 rehap too!....for all of you guys on here that were there at the end,i was there in the begining of straight virginia! i was #3 of all the people from va to go into straight!{19 1/2 months in st.pete} i came up in the "mayflower group",in 82.....by the time i finally came up,i had already been there too long! i 7 stepped very shortly after we came up to virginia! feb 83....

what i've always wondered,if anyone wants to tell me,is what was it like when the place was on its last legs? i mean,can one of you post "the end"
for me? i'd love to know what straights last days in virginia and maryland were like! when me and the other dinosaurs that were in st.pete and sarasota were in there,we never thought that place was ever going to get yanked! you know?
it was an imperitive doom for us......this is why i'm curious....hippie

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe they even took me. I wasnt in any trouble..I checked myself in for depression.

they were a bunch of hard up huckle berries ....
you being that young,should've never been in there! shit i have a daughter that old now....
be glad as shit you weren't in st pete at 13!...good lord!.....that place sucked man.....i'm sorry that you were so young! not like i was an old man either....i was 16 when i went in....believe me it wasn't that much of an edge to be 16-17 in there either...at least not in st.pete!.....i tried to kill myself on my 3rd day in there!...read "why i never tried to split st.pete" posting......that my story.....i wish you luck man!...hippie