Laura Grace Weldon's happy childhood was marred by the presence of alligators under her bed. No one ever proved they weren't real.She found peace in a small forest behind her home, where she hoped small woodland creatures might grow to trust her and eat the offerings of food she brought each day. They didn't.She also sought refuge in books, happily bringing home dozens each week from that heavenly realm called The Library. When told, "get your nose out of that book and go outside" she rode her trusty pink bike for hours. Quite regularly she discovered the thrill of getting lost. Back then small girls found their own way home from construction sites, major highways and Lake Erie. The only consequence? A sense of adventure.The continuing adventure has led Laura to write a book of poetry with nursing home residents, run support groups for abused children, teach nonviolence workshops, develop community enrichment programs and make messy art.Laura lives on Bit of Earth Farm (BitofEarthFarm.com) with her family. Although she's not a particularly useful farm wench she takes part in raising cows, chickens, produce, honeybees, and the occasional ruckus. In her idle hours she writes essays and articles, edits other people's books, spends time on the blog she said she'd never start, writes poetry, and is slow at work on her next book: Subversive Cooking (subversivecooking.com).By the way, she's learned that the alligators haunting us are exactly where any of us put them.