Evelyn Leite - Dance Like Theres No Tomorrow

Praise for Dance Like Theres No Tomorrow

The introduction of Evelyns book grabbed myinterest right away! I wish my mother would have told me the factsof life. I don't mean about sex. I mean the facts of life aboutliving."

It's always assumed the facts about life areregarding sex but throughout Evelyn's story, she shows the manyways that she had to figure out how to live and sidestep criticismsand abuse.

I couldn't wait to read more and I ended upstaying up later than my bedtime because I could not put her bookdown. Dance Like There's No Tomorrow is a classic story of growingup within a family that doesn't show or share emotions and how itfeels to have to live not knowing if you are loved or not.

I think that the events and feelings shedescribed throughout her life are fitting for anyone today torelate. I admire Evelyns transparency, and willingness to bevulnerable with her audience. I also enjoyed her sharing theshenanigans (watermelons!)

Evelyn had a strong instinct to survive andher resiliency is displayed all through the book.

I am looking forward to more from thisauthor.

Delaine Shay, Author And Then, We Laughed:

a Memoir of Hope and Healing

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Dance LikeTheres

No Tomorrow

EVELYN M. LEITE MHR, LPC

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Dance Like Theres No Tomorrow

Fifth book in the Blood, Sex, and Tearsseries.

Published by:

Living With Solutions

PO Box 9702

Rapid City, SD 57709

Copyright 2019 by Evelyn M. Leite, MHR,LPC

All rights reserved. No part of this book maybe reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or byany information and retrieval system without express writtenpermission from the author, except for the inclusion of briefquotations in a review.

Due to the dynamic nature of the internet,any web addresses or links contained in this book may have beenchanged since publication and may no longer be valid. The viewsexpressed in this work are solely the views of the author.

ISBN: (sc) 978-1-7335409-8-8

(eb) 978-1-7335409-9-5

Library of Congress: 2019918458

U.S. Copyright Number: 1-8690394621

Printed in the United States

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Disclaimer

This is a personal document based on eventswhich happen to people every day. They happened to me.

It is a story about alcoholism and pain,about faith and healing, and about joy and recovery. It is writtenthat all people in the helping professions may gain insight intoproblems family members face when alcohol is destroying theirlives. It is further written to bring love, hope, and inspirationto people trying to cope with a disease they do not understand.This book is published with permission of close family members.Some names and events are changed but the story is real and couldbe happening next door to you. Or in your house.

This book is designed to provide informationabout the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understandingthat the publisher and authors are not engaged in rendering legal,accounting, or other professional services. If legal or otherexpert assistance is required, the services of a competentprofessional should be sought.

Every precaution has been taken in thedevelopment of this book to bring you accurate and up to dateinformation. However, there may be mistakes both typographical andin content. Therefore, this text should be used only as a generalguide and not as the ultimate source for improving familyrelations.

The purpose of this manual is to educate andenlighten. The author and publisher shall have neither liabilitynor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any lossor damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly bythe information contained in this book. The author assumes noresponsibility for any liability resulting from the use of theinformation contained in this book.

If you do not wish to be bound by the above,you may return this book to the publisher for a full refund.

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TABLE OFCONTENTS

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Dedication

Dedicated with love to the entire seniorclass of 1957. All of whom gave me a reason to go on even thoughthey never knew how much their acceptance meant to a blunderingfarm girl with absolutely no self-esteem. You gave me a reason topersevere. Also dedicated with special admiration and respect toMercedes Laramie, Bill Fischer, Mike Sargent, Glenn Frick, GlendaTerbell, Jim Stirling, Larry Meisner and Sharon Lippert. All ofwhom I owe a debt of gratitude. Just so you know life now iswonderful.

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Introduction

I wish my mother would have told me the factsof life. I dont mean about sex, I mean the facts of life aboutliving.

Like just because a guy is handsome, wears auniform, and has big muscles, a great butt, and a grin that makesgirls swoon, doesnt mean hed make a great husband and father.

Or when youre on your own there will bebills to payrent, lights, food, and car payments. And every timeyou get a dime, said car will need new tires.

Or living on an airmans pay will guaranteeyoull be lucky to get one new dress a year.

Or that leaving the military causes even moreproblems because construction workers dont work when it rains.

I wish my mother would have known that Loveis patient, love is kind, doesnt mean ignoring the obvious. Itdoesnt mean turning a blind eye to your out-of-control children.It for darn sure doesnt mean you have to allow your husband toverbally beat you up.

It wasnt that my mother and father didntlove their children or get obedience from their children. It wasjust that most of the time we were utter miserable failures atreading our parents minds. There was a horrible inconsistency inour house. It was a pride factor, an ignore-it-and-it-will-go-awayfactor, a how-dare-you-not-know-what-I-want factor, and arise-above-it factorall accompanied by a strong do-as-I say-not-asI-do rule.

We are Joneses. We dont whine. We dont cry.We dont need anybody. We are lucky. We are blessed. We arebrainwashed.

All of the names in this book have beenchanged to protect the identity of those who are involved in mystory.

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Preface

Everybody has a story, mine is just one ofmillions. All of my books are filled with pain and facts that manyfamilies hide because of fear of being judged. It is time torealize addiction and mental illness are things that need to betreated not hidden. They must come out of the attic which is wherethey used to hide addicts and the mentally ill back in the olddays.

When light is shed on these issues and theelements of shame are brought out in the open, then those sufferingfrom fear, anxiety, shame, addiction and Post Traumatic StressDisorder will find more help and more acceptance. It is in thisspirit of openness that I present my experiences which for thediscerning reader clearly delineates the progression of the diseaseof alcoholisma disease that is no more shameful than diabetes.

Denial must be seen for what it isa way toavoid the painful truth. But avoiding the truth, makes for a crazymaking family experience and creates the very shame, and anxietythat denial is meant to avoid.

The disease of addiction creates a jumble ofmixed emotions for anyone experiencing it or watching it. There isconfusion, anger, hurt, fear, hostility and attempts to control.Nothing works as long as judgment prevails instead of education. Ifyou do not have addiction and mental health issues in your family,then you know someone who does. Thank God that its not you andlearn all you can about having compassion for those who suffer. Wecan all make a difference.

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Chapter 1

Trying to Fit In

It doesnt seem to matter to anyone but methat we are leaving the farm I love.

We are driving across the frozen countrysideduring our Christmas break from school. Cold air is seeping intoDaddys tired red farm truck piled high with all the bits andpieces, odds and ends well need for now.