Author: Richard McKenzie Neal

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Published: 2006-09-06

Total Pages: 444

ISBN-13: 1467817392

The words contained within the covers of this book are intended to speak to some of lifes ups and downs. Life encompasses a multitude of components that require daily maintenance and/or managementand your judgment in those areas will drive the direction of your existence. Life will, sooner or later, introduce you to the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in-betweenhumor, joy, sadness and the always-present mystery. The author believes the words in this book to be universalalthough not universally spoken nor acknowledged. Richards odyssey has been continuous from the denial of his rural Arkansas roots to his acceptance in Phase Three. While the Greyhound bus physically transported him away from his disdainand provided the escape from his dysfunctional family, the relocation only skewed his perspective. California was a world apart from Arkansas, and without an education and/or a craftlife would severely test the authors fortitude and determination. It would resemble a scavenger hunt as he chased his always-moving, always-fading demons for personal understanding. This book began simply enough as letters to his son (the second of two from the authors second marriage) who was/is also seeking self-understanding. The son was serving prison time for drug usage and drug-related crimes stemming from twenty years of abuse. Added to that, his son, Landon, is afflicted with epilepsy and the combination (epilepsy and heroin) can produce deadly consequences. His sons first letter not only requested that his father correspond with him, but that he fill in the gaps of his lifehis words were, Dad, I know nothing of you before our family. The father was taken abackhe had rarely, if ever, thought about his past lifemuch less verbalized it to others. Initially, as he reflected on the request, he wondered if he even remembered anything about his pastor had he buried it so deeply (through denial) that he would never be able to resurrect the information that his son was requesting. The book chronicles the authors early years in Arkansas and his own drug abuse during his twenties as he struggled in California. The book reveals the authors insecurities regarding his lack of a formal education. How he created a faade to conceal his perceived deficiencies as he managed a challenging career (the majority of those years at the supervisory level) within the oil industry. One cannot read just one of the letters, encapsulated between the Foreword and the last page, and fully comprehend the purpose and/or intent of this collaboration between the writers present life and his long-buried past. Singularly, none of the enclosed correspondence is capable of standing alonebut linked together, they provide a measure of insightfulness and understanding (you decide about what). There are common threads woven throughout the writingand there are also subliminal messages, advice, thoughts, insight, understanding, encouragements and reconciliation embedded within the dynamics of this endeavor. From the author: Landon and I have come a long way with our burdens; and while neither of us have arrived yetI believe we are both on the correct path and approaching the other side. But only time will tell