Happy to Be

Üma Kleppinger
Sep 5, 2018 · 8 min read

I came here to tell you a story.

With these words, I began an outline for a collection of essays about growing up an Army brat with mental illness in the family. Mine was a story of chaos, instability, violence, and years of what seemed like never-ending loss. But I had pulled through these challenges, escaping the cold legacy of abuse.

Against all the odds, I’d survived teenage homelessness, drugs, and being raped…

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Üma Kleppinger

Written by

Freelance writer, editor, essayist, and ghostwriter. I like bikes, bourbon, bubbles, and books-not necessarily in that order. More about me: www.UmaCreative.com

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