Waiting on Response From Site

Well, about a week ago I found a site that I found while web-surfing ... there is a moderator-approval process and I don't know that they want me as a member so I am being patient and waiting to see if I become a "member". SO ... I wanted to take this opportunity to post here in my blog Transition from Vegetarian to Vegan what I put as my "reasons" for being Vegan (which I happily claim as my "label").

As posted on www.veganfreak.net in the Vegan Freak Forums (introduction thread) :

"Hello All ! My name is ____ and I am happy to have found you ! I began my journey as a Vegetarian the second I started eating solid foods. I did anything and everything (including the bury-it-under-other-food trick) as a youngster to avoid meat. I was in a single-parent home from the age of 5 but every Summer with my Grandparents on the "Farm" involved a great deal of bargaining ... "if you will finish that bite of ham you can have a ______ (insert any number of baked/fried goods containing lard)."I felt triumphant as a kid when I would get my favorites such as PB & J or mashed potatoes w/peas. I have a lot of emotional and painful memories involving forced omnivorous behavior. What my otherwise caring and gentle Grandfather didn't realize about taking me to the Barn to see the pigs, the field to see the cows, and the freezer to see the "slaughterhouse spoils" was that it only re-inforced what I felt every time I was made to "take one bite" ... sick. As a kid I just wanted to spend time with my family and was never forced to witness the brutal aspects of farmlife so it took a while before my confidence caught up with my feelings and I could stand up for myself (and the animals). As I matured and read everything I could get my hands on regarding health, nutrition, & animal rights my lifestyle changed. Some things were abrupt and clear-cut for me and others took time to weed-out of my life. My Mom was supportive of my choices overall and I attempted to become Vegan several times over the course of my teen years but being in a one-income (limited at that) home in a small town made it difficult for me to find alot of things that make living the Vegan Lifestyle easier. I was never much into eggs to begin with so that was not a stretch ... cheese was the issue. Once I was more educated and understood that there is an addictive quality present that was a much more simple undertaking ... until then there was a "disconnect" between my box of Mac & Cheese or slice of American & the suffering of cows in order for me to afford it. (not to mention the chemicals, add.'s, & preserv.'s) So, now 29 years old and married with an almost 4 year old son I find myself making choices not only for myself but for MY family and am PROUD to be Vegan ! My son will not have the painful food memories that I do ... I am thankful for that. He doesn't know that others would think it's odd to not include eggs/butter/cow's milk in his Birthday Cake ... he just knows that it's GOOD ! I have become very comfortable in my Vegan skin & now it's time to battle the school-age issues for my son ... well come September anyway.That's a little of my "Herstory". I look forward to getting to know you too!"

SO ... there it is. Regardless of whether I can become a member of the site or not it was great to write all of that down somewhere that someone (other than me) could read it. I feel much more clarity in everyday "things" since making the transition from Vegetarian to Vegan ... of course for me I still remember as a kid there was less of the term "vegan" being used and more of the term "strict vegetarian" so depending on the circle in which I am conversing I may still label myself Vegetarian ... I don't think they are mutualy exclusive. :)