My name is James Michael Perry although everyone I know calls me Jimmy. I was born 46 minutes after my twin sister Mae in Flint, MI.
I traveled allot as a kid because my Dad was always moving from state to state looking for work. I have seen most the states on the eastern side of the USA. We lived in MI, FL, NY, and finally settled in GA when I was in second Grade.
Camping was how we lived all the way until I was 12 years old. The biggest thing I ever lived in was about 16 feet long and could be pulled behind a pick up truck. That was Dad's way of keeping us out of the bad areas. I grew up fishing and hunting. Dad took us out every weekend when I was a kid. When we lived in NY, we would fish and Dig for clams on the beaches. In FL we would fish, snorkel, and go offshore on drifts boats. In Ga we fished, hunted, and spent all our time in the woods.
Dad taught me to paddle a river as soon as I was big enough to hold a paddle. We paddled most the rivers in North Georgia, with a 12 hour trip down the Hooch, and 18 1/2 hours down the Etowah from Cartersville to Rome.
We lived in Acworth, GA from 2nd to 7th grade. Was a little campground called Whispering Pines. I made allot of friends there some like Johnny, Jodie, Randi, and Kristen I still talk to on a regular basis. Others I have since lost touch with. We lived on Lake Allatoona with miles of woods to run and plenty of lake to fish. Johnny and I spent our time fishing, riding bikes, and running thru the woods like boys do. His family became mine and I spent allot of my time with them. His daddy taught us to Hunt, and to plumb, and how to live off the land.
At 12 my folks split up. Dad moved to Woodstock and I eventually moved in with him. Mae stayed with Ma and I started school in a new town. I went to Dean Rusk Middle School, and Sequoyah High School. In middle school I made friends with Brent, Lawson, and Stephen. I also went on my first date with Tina who was my date to the 8th grade graduation dance. I spent my summers with Ma and Johnny and we still terrorized the towns of Woodstock and Acworth when we could.
Sometime between Middle school and High School things changed. I made some new friends that had a big impact on my life both good and bad. First I met Louis and he was trouble although at the time I didn't realize it. I went from long hair and shy to shaved head and trouble in weeks. Louis introduced me to Melinda and they both introduced me to music. They took me to my first concert Lita ford and Tuff I believe and too many other shows after words.
During High School I found myself leaving old friends and finding new ones. Jessica, Dave, Doug (Jamie), Bob, Shawn, Tim, Mike, and the others in the group of Punks, Misfits, Head bangers or whatever everyone else called us. I also found lust, love, and myself in trouble with woman. Some where great friendships damaged by my stupidity, others just a young man's lust run rampant.
Sometime during high school I decided to try other things. I quit and ran away multiple times. Once finding myself in FL running a McDonalds for close to 6 months. During one of those times of being back and trying high school again I met my first wife Dee. We made a good go of things but too young, and struggling we finally moved on in 97.
After my first wife and I split up I joined the army. Went in DEP as a 45E stationed in Ft Knox Kentucky. When I returned all hell broke lose in my life. My new found freedom I went over board. Partying became a daily event and I found myself in allot of situations I should have never been in. Quickly burning bridges and killing old friendships I walked away from it all in December 1999.
Feb 12 2000 I met the person that would change my life forever. Helen came into my life along with a little sleepy eyed curly haired red headed girl name Emily. When I met Emily I knew the man I wanted to be. Over the last 9 years my Wife and best Friend has helped me become everything I am, and our children have reminded me everyday of that man I want to be.
Who I am now a Daddy, a Husband, a good friend. I am a successful Superintendent for a large construction management company. I am a fisherman, a hunter, and outdoorsman. I am confident, Strong minded, and demanding at times. I am what my life has made me. What my experiences has taught me, and what my dreams and desires take me towards.
