Gigi Samaha

About

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

― Leo Tolstoy , Anna Karenina

My life experiences are always somewhere in my writing. I can’t detach myself from the personalities I have known, and I hope it enriches my stories. Processing our childhood experience seems to be a constant and common thread for all of us humans, each handling it in our own way.

My formative years were spent knocking on doors, preparing for meetings, bible studies and giving talks at the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. My father served as an Elder in the congregation. As children we toed the line, talked the talk, walked the walk and lived in a house of glass; we knew our every movement was being watched and informants were everywhere.

An absurd childhood experience can be a relentless demon trying to consume the rest of your life, or it can be an odd gift. It has been my best inspiration and given me a unique story to tell in a million different ways. Although not solicited, I’m grateful for the abundance of material I have to draw upon.

Today, I’m proud of the family that my husband and I have created. I hope my quirks and phobias didn’t leave a too much of a lasting mark on my children. Luckily, our kids grew up to become wonderful, caring and interesting people. They make my heart sing.