Ginger aka Ginger biography

Real biography: Lynn was born Ginger Lynn Allen in Rockford, Illinois, the daughter of 18-year-old clock supervisor Wayne Allen and 19-year-old switchboard operator Marilyn née McBride. Life in the Allen household ranged from dysfunctional to pathological, where she was subject to abuse mainly by her mother. When Allen's father left in 1968, the abuse worsened as her mother blamed her for all her problems. Her only refuge was Wayne Allen's parents, who gave her emotional support and positive reinforcement; however, her mother controlled the visits. Also, Allen had very few friends during her childhood, resulting in the creation of imaginary friends which seemed very real to her. Her grandmother recounted that this lasted "a very long time."

Allen attempted suicide in 1974, using sleeping pills and other over-the-counter medications her mother was using. She recalled that she was in a catatonic state for about three days; her mother did not help her in any way. Shortly thereafter, her grandparents took her away from her mother, after the grandfather, by chance, called the house and heard Lynn screaming in the background. At 13, she had a boyfriend, who was a drug addict. Through this boyfriend, she not only began her descent into substance abuse, but also became pregnant -- and later aborted the pregnancy. This older boyfriend, whom she met in a park, became her first serious love interest. She saved her money in the hopes of one day marrying him.

Her grandmother introduced her to contraceptive devices after discovering her sexual activities. During her youth, she was attracted to older men not in school who were mainly abusive. After graduating in 1981, she moved out of her grandparent's house; her grandparents subsequently moved to Lucerne Valley, California. While she stayed in Rockford, she worked at a Musicland store as assistant manager and a bar waitress at night.