This book is divided into three thematic Parts, which trace the long arc of processing trauma—from silent witnessing to eventual clarity.
Theme: Formative trauma and abuse seen through the eyes of a child, where survival required silent witnessing and denial. (Ages 3–13)
Chapter 1: Tickle and Goodbye
Chapter 5: The Wire Hanger
Chapter 7: The Haircut
Theme: The years when unprocessed trauma manifests as crises in adult life, including relational chaos, mental health struggles, and physical/financial dispossession. (Ages 20–38)
Chapter 9: The Affair Wasn’t the Only Thing I Had to Survive
Chapter 15: "You’re Kidding Me, Right?": The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Chapter 17: I’m Really Homeless and in Waukesha
Theme: The devastating finality of confronting the original sources of trauma and loss, leading to the ultimate "Peak" of wisdom and self-possession. (Ages 46–51)
Chapter 18: Mom’s Fall From the 15 Foot Porch, Oh My!
Chapter 20: “He’s Dead”: The Love I Held Through the Rage and the Grief
Learn More: Read two distinct chapter samples from the book! The first, Chapter 9: The Letter, is available on the Sample Chapter Tab. A second sample, Chapter 15: The Affair Wasn’t the Only Thing I Had to Survive, is available on Medium.com.