The Gift of Storytelling

Once upon when I was 28 years old, my dear Uncle Casey passed away. For me, Uncle Casey was something of a surrogate grandfather. Married to my mom’s Aunt Rose, he had always been a quiet presence of love and support in my life.

At Uncle Casey’s memorial banquet, I sat with my cousin Jerry, one of Uncle Casey’s three kids. Jerry was visibly upset about his father’s passing, so I decided to share a story with him—one that had always stuck with me.

Embracing Challenges: Turning Life’s Struggles into Stories

I was diagnosed with lupus when I was 55 years old—a debilitating disease that would completely alter the way I lived and worked. By the time I turned 57, the symptoms had progressed to the point where even something as fundamental to me as writing became a struggle. My hands, wrists, and fingers were wracked with inflammation and pain, making every word I tried to write excruciating.

But I adapted.