Vitality Stories Lesson #5 – Twelve Faces of Father

Vitality Stories

Lesson #5paystubs

Twelve Faces of Father

Alcoholics Anonymous wanted Harry to stand up in front of everyone and say, ‘I’m Harry and I AM an alcoholic.’ Shoot, isn’t it enough to try to stop drinking? He was more than these other people standing up and touting addictions, comfortable with the restrictive label of alcoholic, recovering alcoholic, or recovered alcoholic—always an alcoholic and forever measured by chips and days sober. But he wasn’t only an alcoholic, and he cringed as he was whittled away to a single thing by a bunch of people who didn’t know him. He was also a husband, father, and hard working man. He’d served in World War II as a Merchant Marine and sailed the Mediterranean for Pete’s sake! Why couldn’t he just stand up and identify himself fully? He’d rather say, ‘I’m Harry and I’m a husband, father, veteran and hard working man who has alcoholism.’ But no, everyone just accused him of denial. – Harry Sloan, Tiger Drive

Hello, My Name is Harry…

Harry Sloan is a character in my novel, Tiger Drive.  Though it is literary fiction, one of my brothers refers to Harry’s chapters as faction because Harry Sloan sounds a lot like
our father, Richard Case. In truth, my dad’s alcoholism and aversions Continue reading

Advice from a Senior Freshman – March 5, 2015

 

Vitality Stories

Lesson #4

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Advice from a Senior Freshman

Who’s Counting?

A friend of mine refers to serendipitous meetings as Crazy-Right Moments, and I had one this week, and it felt, well, crazy that I could be in the right place at the right time to meet the right person.

I was waiting for a flight and popped into a cheesy store to purchase a souvenir t-shirt for my boyfriend. He was sitting in the food court behind the store, separated from me by a wall of glass. Holding my fashion choice against the windowpane, I pantomimed and fruitlessly shouted, Continue reading

Vitality Stories Lesson #3 – February 21, 2015

Vitality Stories Lesson #3

YOU ARE HERE Color

YOU ARE NOW HERE:

When to Embrace the Past and When to Pass

The Past Doesn’t Exist?

Helping elders with their memoirs is a trip in time. On one hand, I’m enrolled in Life 101, learning valuable lessons that I can apply to my own existence, relationships, and choices—a veritable checklist of Do’s & Don’ts for a Happy Life. On the other hand, I spend A LOT of time digging around in someone else’s past, and before I know it BANG!—something happens Continue reading

Recalibrating Rachel – February 17, 2015

 Recalibrating Rachel

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My dad used to say, “If you wish away your work day, you’re wishing away one third of your life today.”

Ouch.

Most of us dream about getting to do what we love someday. Some of us get lost in the rigmarole and can’t remember what excites us. Many of us feel confined by finances or family obligations. And some of us are just plain Continue reading

Vitality Stories Interview – February 16, 2015

Vitality Stories Interview #1

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Hello, My Name is Teri

This weekend, I made an adult , risky and cringe-worthy, decision. Sometimes my  newsletter will cover interviews with Vitality Stories worthy folks. Each guest will answer the same questions, which at times, are very personal. I decided Continue reading

Vitality Stories Lesson #2 – November 10, 2014

Vitality Stories Lesson #2 

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Bonnie’s (bottom right) first job out of high school at a CBS radio station in Minneapolis.

 

 

Quality friendships count and the matter, rather than the method, is key.

Bonnie married three times, had nine children, owned several dogs, and often worked swing shift waitressing in casinos, and while she never had a minute to herself, she was heart-numbingly lonely. She wondered, Continue reading

Vitality Stories Lesson #1 – October 9, 2014

 

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As long as you can breathe, you can check a dream off your list.

I have acquired the hobby of ghost writing memoirs for the elderly who are afraid of being forgotten when they pass away. It’s true. You’d be shocked how many people fear they will disappear from loved ones memories despite several children, dozens of grandchildren, and a million great-grandchildren, of losing recognition for their life lessons, and credit for their successes, and finally, they want people to always remember who they loved, how they loved, what they regret, and the curve balls and lemons tossed their way. They want credit. They want validation. They want forgiveness. And I soak up their every word and never pass on an opportunity to help them share their story with their families. I do it for free because Continue reading