Candles In The Darkness: A True Story Of Faith, Hope & Friendship

Candles in the Darkness: A True Story of Faith, Hope & Friendship

About the Author Two Different Voices One Harmonious Duo Sally Fugazi and Debbie Harwell come from totally opposite backgrounds (Deb is a native Texan, Sal is an Air Force brat; Sal is a butterfly, Deb is the worker bee;...or Deb is discipline, Sal is chaos), but they merge their life experiences into a story of midlife that is both heartwarming and inspiring. Both women have racked up the miles as wives, mothers, grandmothers, and daughters. They have been housewives and working moms, corporate wives and volunteers. Both have mothered and mentored a houseful of children, been caregivers to their elderly parents, are survivors of clinical depression, and determined to battle menopause without the benefit of HRT. Between them they have over 100 years of fieldwork as real women! It is with this unique set of life experiences that they reach out to other women with compassion and understanding through their quirky senses of humor and can-do attitude. A true story of two women inmidlife, their joys, their sorrows, their sagging skin--.and, most important TheirAttitude: Life is too short to be miserable!It's a sweltering summer but novacation for Sal & Deb: pregnant daughters, weddings (in that order),elderly parents, teenagers, grandchildren--and that's the boring part!Fall emerges, the season where wereap what we have sown: Deb, overwhelmed with tending aging parents, collapsesinto clinical depression.? Armed with her own previous experience with depression/anxiety, Sallights a candle for her friend and they begin an inspiring journey together outof the darkness.How do they do it? Drugs?? Therapy?? Prayer?? Humor? ABSOLUTELY!!!?? Take notes!!!Time to celebrate the holidays!The dialogue is uplifting: breast biopsies are treated with wine and chocolatechip cookies; a true tale of a serial killer bird entertains them whileawaiting test results and tiny granddaughters to be born.Finally, the fattening feasts areover, but life doesn't slow down.? Enjoythe ride as Sal & Deb careen on hormonal roller coasters through midlife(sometimes accompanied by their raging counterparts: adolescent children).? It's a wild ride, with a soft landing. Hop onand buckle up! Excerpt. ? Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Subj: Humans and Pigs Date: 1/2/2001 3:17:48 PM Central Standard Time From: sarahjf50@hotmail.com To: debbiesb13@aol.com Okay, bear with me here, I am making a true attempt to catch up on our e-mails... As for the answer to what two mammals sunburn--I qualify for both species, as I am: The Human Pig. I have eaten so many crackers, cheese, dips, chips, candies, chocolates, pies, cakes, potatoes, stuffings, bean casseroles, lasagnas, cookies, nachos and maybe a tiny bit of salad...I am truly the human pig. I think I was oinking in my sleep...I have this urge to constantly stick my nose in the trough (frig) and root around for more slop (leftovers). Then there's the urge to roll in the dirt/mud (my house after the holidays) and do nothing. As for night sweats and hot flashes: PLEASE don't tell me you have had these lovely physical conditions with no further signs of menopause for two years! I have to recant my diagnosis of your depression: no longer is it a case of too much emotional strain on your brain for too long. The new conclusion: arrested menopause. What a depressing situation! Would you like me to rip out your ovaries now? Then you can come and do mine. How, in heaven's name, am I going to be when I have night sweats in the summer? Right now it is an inconvenience, but I just uncover myself to the cold night air for two minutes and it subsides--just a minor clamminess. But summer nights and night sweats? I will have to put waterproof pads on the bed, Bob will sleep on the floor with the dogs, I will be the first woman to drown in her own bed. This is not to mention how my bedroom will begin to reek like the boys' locker room. I will spend a fortune in washing sheets and fragr