My high school years were my salvation, actually. It was grades 1-8, especially junior high that were the worst ones (which makes me in the minority; I'm pretty sure it's high school for most kids).

Girls are worse than boys because of the reasons you said. The physical stuff isn't nearly as damaging as cruel words can be. Whoever wrote that "sticks and stones can break my bones" adage was full of crap. :/

I don't clench my fists anymore, except to get angry that it's still done. I think the only leftover from my experiences is the transient paranoid feeling that people don't really like me even when they say they do. I know in my head it's not true, but the little kid part doesn't believe it sometimes.

I figure there's a reason what happened to me did, and maybe it's that I'm a little bit kinder than I would have been otherwise, a little more compassionate, a better parent. Also, I really would love to go into schools and tell my story to the kids, especially the ones who are being bullied now. And their parents, because like I said, if the parents aren't aware, nothing will change.

Rick Mercer is made of the awesomest awesome in awesomeland, no lie. His Spread the Net is very cool, as well. I really should have donated to them by now; I mean, ten bucks to save someone's life is a pretty fair exchange. :D