Guest speaker at the National Eldercare Advisors Conference, Pittsburgh, PA in August, 2007, for "A Place For Mom". September, 2007. Keynote speaker for Alzheimer"s Association-Eastern NC Chapter's annual golf tournament and additional caregiver conferences, July, 2007. Forward to the book: "I cannot remember a time when my life was mundane or boring. I have my Aunt Dick to thank for many privile
ges and opportunities offered me from age three. My Aunt Dick(I never knew that was an unusual name until recently) was my substitute grandmother because her sister was in a mental institution. The time given me was often spent in showing me off. She trained me well in the humanities. Art came naturally in my maternal heritage. Aunt Dick's father had his own orchestra and played all the instruments. My mother could sing like an angel. My grandmother performed along side Aunt Dick in the world of entertainment. Aunt Dick, (Dolly Farley) lived with me in her latter years until she was placed in a care facility. She died at 93 with Alzheimer's. My first remembrance on the stage was at three. My stage was the kitchen table and all the relatives and friends were my audience. With thumbs in my suspenders, I recited "The Raggedy Man" by James Whitcomb Riley. There was joy in the giving and an addiction to the applause. The dimes thrown at my feet just sealed the deal. I performed locally as a majorette, cheerleader, dancer, and stage performer until age sixteen. Now you know why I am "full" of myself. I feel liberated to tell the "Three Whispered Words"; SUICIDE, BIGOTRY, CANCER. My favorite quote from the book: "Trouble is a part of life, and if you don't share it, you don't give others the chance to love you enough." Dinah Shore
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