As a baby boomer and a woman over fifty, Peggy Kennedy was affected by the same generational influences many of us encountered in our early years. When she was a child, she planted herself in front of the tube and faithfully watched Howdy Doody and The Mickey Mouse Club. As a teen, she sported the boomer uniform: mini skirts and bellbottoms topped with a peasant blouse. And, in college, she attended her share of marches and rallies.
But Peggy’s childhood and early adulthood were different in a number of ways than most of us experienced. Her family went through some truly wrenching events that might have devastated many; but they somehow pulled through, grew stronger, and become even closer. Peggy chronicled her remarkable life in her compelling and can’t-put-it-down read, Approaching Neverland:A Memoir of Epic Tragedy & Happily Ever After.
The biggest issue Peggy faced early on was that her mother suffered with a form of mental illness that’s now called bipolar disorder. Glenn Close is currently spearheading a campaign to bring mental illness out of the closet and help de-stigmatize the disease. But, back in the sixties when Peggy was growing up, even the mere mention of mental illness was taboo—let alone admit that your family member was diagnosed with a mental disorder. Although the National Institute of Mental Health states that one in four adults in the United States have some type of diagnosable mental illness (and it couldn’t have been that different back then), it was the deepest and darkest of secrets.
I interviewed Peggy about her book on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio and was incredibly moved by her story. Not only did her mom suffer from mental illness, her sister was murdered, her brother died of AIDS, and her father contracted Alzheimer’s disease. But Peggy’s book is not a story that centers on tragedies alone. Far from it. Like that other Kennedy family, there’s no doubt these Kennedys experienced great loss, but they also were blessed with amazing talent and gifts. Each of the children was bright and creative and the highly spirited siblings shared a love for fun and humor. Most of all, they were bonded in ways few brothers and sisters are—they held a deep and abiding love for one another and this made all the difference.
I was so touched by Peggy’s story that I wrote a customer review for Amazon. “Anyone who has ever faced significant loss or overcome great challenge will especially relate. Peggy’s story is both a deeply moving account of a complex family and a celebration of triumph and overcoming the odds. A must read that will leave you smiling with tears in your eyes.”
This is a book like no other. It would make the perfect gift for a friend or loved one who’s going through a difficult time and needs some consolation and encouragement. Peggy found her “happily ever after” and, when you read her book, she will inspire you to find your own. You, too, will finish her remarkable and moving story smiling with tears in your eyes.
As a baby boomer and a woman over fifty, Peggy Kennedy was affected by the same generational influences many of us encountered in our early years. When she was a child, she planted herself in front of the tube and faithfully watched Howdy Doody and The Mickey Mouse Club. As a teen, she sported the boomer uniform: mini skirts and bellbottoms topped with a peasant blouse. And, in college, she attended her share of marches and rallies.
But Peggy’s childhood and early adulthood were different in a number of ways than most of us experienced. Her family went through some truly wrenching events that might have devastated many; but they somehow pulled through, grew stronger, and become even closer. Peggy chronicled her remarkable life in her compelling and can’t-put-it-down read, Approaching Neverland:A Memoir of Epic Tragedy & Happily Ever After.
The biggest issue Peggy faced early on was that her mother suffered with a form of mental illness that’s now called bipolar disorder. Glenn Close is currently spearheading a campaign to bring mental illness out of the closet and help de-stigmatize the disease. But, back in the sixties when Peggy was growing up, even the mere mention of mental illness was taboo—let alone admit that your family member was diagnosed with a mental disorder. Although the National Institute of Mental Health states that one in four adults in the United States have some type of diagnosable mental illness (and it couldn’t have been that different back then), it was the deepest and darkest of secrets.
I interviewed Peggy about her book on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio and was incredibly moved by her story. Not only did her mom suffer from mental illness, her sister was murdered, her brother died of AIDS, and her father contracted Alzheimer’s disease. But Peggy’s book is not a story that centers on tragedies alone. Far from it. Like that other Kennedy family, there’s no doubt these Kennedys experienced great loss, but they also were blessed with amazing talent and gifts. Each of the children was bright and creative and the highly spirited siblings shared a love for fun and humor. Most of all, they were bonded in ways few brothers and sisters are—they held a deep and abiding love for one another and this made all the difference.
I was so touched by Peggy’s story that I wrote a customer review for Amazon. “Anyone who has ever faced significant loss or overcome great challenge will especially relate. Peggy’s story is both a deeply moving account of a complex family and a celebration of triumph and overcoming the odds. A must read that will leave you smiling with tears in your eyes.”
This is a book like no other. It would make the perfect gift for a friend or loved one who’s going through a difficult time and needs some consolation and encouragement. Peggy found her “happily ever after” and, when you read her book, she will inspire you to find your own. You, too, will finish her remarkable and moving story smiling with tears in your eyes.