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Review of Less Rhodes Book from the publisher's website. Into the Dark for Gold Les Rhodes 320 pages, 7 x 5 in., ISBN 0-8314-0088-9, $16.95 paperback This book offers a wonderfully revealing glimpse of Les Rhode's travels into the experience and meaning of chronic illness. Anyone living through long term adversity may find valuable insights in these short, powerful essays about this rare woman's quest to embrace the depths of her life, her dreams, and her early-onset Parkinson's Disease. The wisdom here speaks to anyone whose spirit includes the capacity for self-discovery and awe. As she writes in her preface, "Although this book deals with my process around my condition, I intended it to speak to any who struggle with adversity and long to transform personal sorrow and pain into a process of spiritual growth." Les Rhodes, M.A., is an experienced educator, writer, and psychotherapist. A certified Family Life educator and clinical member of AAMFT, she has taught part-time at Duke University and at Appalachian State U. In 1998 she received the Living Treasure Award from Avanta, the Virginia Satir network. "From time to time, I find an extraordinary book that stops my world. The eloquent, passionate, and often mystical story of Les Rhodes shows how we may journey daily into the darkness of an illness, of life itself, and yet emerge continually transformed and open to new experiences of love, joy, and inspiration." - Bud Harris, Ph.D., Jungian analyst, author of Like Gold Through Fire and The Father Quest "By transforming her chronic illness into personal meaning, love, compassion, healing and growth, Les Rhodes ... inspires us to dig deeply for the nuggets of gold buried in our bodies and psyches. This book is a must for anyone (everyone) whose life has changed because of a serious challenge." - Ilana Rubenfeld, creator of Rubenfeld Synergy® and author of The Listening Hand "Les Rhodes was a wise, generous, and loving woman before her illness ... made her a sage. Reading this book takes guts - and makes us yearn to be in her presence." - Belinda Novik, Ph.D., psychologist "... with open arms [she] guides us through the hidden depths of her soul and lifts us with her to ecstatic heights." - DeWitt L. Myers, Th.M., Pastoral Counselor
However, I left college after one year and married John Schuster in December, 1959 while he was at Western Kentucky Uninversity. We had 3 children, Donna now aged 47, Doug 45, and Tommy 39. I spent many happy years volunteering for anything KID related : PTA, Little League, coaching, Cub Scouts, etc. and attending every function or game. I loved every minute of it. In April of 1974 the BIG TORNADO damaged our home on Crescent Court extensively. Tommy and I had just gotten in the house when it hit. Do not want to do that again! I also got divorced that same year. All time after that was BT or AT. I was single for 7 years. I went to work for the 1st time when Tommy was 14 and stayed 20 years in Human Resources with The City of Louisville Metro Parks Department. In 1980 I remet Jim Rueff a friend from U of L. After graduating from UK he had gone into broadcasting. After 10 years on the air he started teaching broadcasting and television production in high school. We were married in February, 1981. Two years ago we built a home in Shelbyville, Kentucky and LOVE our retirement here !!! Donna's is now the Development Director for Bridgehaven Mental Health Services. Her daughter Hannah is 18 and a freshman at Western Kentucky University her mother's alma-mater. Hannah has already traveled extensively and is planning a Semester At Sea in the second semester of her sophmore year. After college, also at Western, Doug joined the Coast Guard. He has been in for 20 years and hasn't lived in Louisville since 1986. His children, Stephanie 17, Taylor 10, and his wife Susan are presently living in Jacksonville, Florida. The kids go to Bolles School and Susan works in the swimming office there. Doug is in the middle of a one year command of the Marine Safety Port in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. After being in the Army and 2 years at Vincinnes University in Indiana, Tommy married Lettie Lockhardt's daughter Hallie. Lettie was also in our 1956 class. He worked as a greenskeeper for many years and is now in property management. Their two girls Olivia 10 and Evie 7 live in Crescent Hill and go to Emmet Field School as did my mother, my sister, my children and I. My accomplishments are my children. They turned out to be good people, fun to be with and all wonderful parents. Everyone is healthy for the moment. For all this I am grateful !!!
We were snowbirds until 2001 when we sold our home of 43 years in Louisville and moved to Tavares Florida. We have been very fortunate to enjoy our retirement. We have one grown son, and we celebrate our fiftieth wedding anniversary this year.
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