Synopsis
Having the Time of My Life is a rich account of the author's life. It depicts the persons, places, and events in his life that he wishes to remember and acknowledge. It shows how everything and everyone around him genuinely enriched his life. This memoir brings back the tiny fragments of his history, which are poignantly remembered for a lifetime. He comes from a big family - thirteen children but only eleven grew to adulthood. He shares the quality of family bonding he and his siblings experienced while growing up. He includes the memories of his sickly childhood, his challenging coming-of-age years, and his fulfi lling adulthood. In the fi rst chapters, he features his mother's letter to him that recounts her personal experiences and remembrances. He tells of the loving family he has, the special occasions they celebrate, their trips between the United States and Canada, the deaths of his brother and sister, and the wonderful times they share. With vivid details, he reveals his fi rst love. He describes their acquaintance, secret dates, and the sad goodbye. He recalls of his pursuit of the girl known by the name of Patricia Smith and shares of his discovery of her true identity. Patricia Smith, the girl he desperately sought, was born Lucille Ann Collier whose stage name is Ann Miller - the actress, dancer, and singer. The girl of his first love is a star celebrity who has her own secrets. He shows the loving but covert poetry, music, and messages shared between Ann and him through the years. At age fi fty-four, he fi nally meets his future wife. He portrays the unique bond he has with Patricia "Pat" Mergens - and how their honest relationship came about. His wife, Pat, had been a Catholic nun for fourteen years, who then works as a clinical dietician at a hospital. She is a college graduate and served in the Air Force for two years. They both understand each other because of the experiences they had; that's why they have shared a deep and special love for almost four decades already. He had some diffi cult years, uncomfortable moments, and heartrending times, but they are all appeased because of pleasant associations - the strangers who became friends, the wonderful friends who made a difference in his life, and the affectionate family who loves him.
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About the Author
Peter Chapel was born in Manitoba, Canada, and moved to New York City at the age of eighteen. He served four years in the US Army during World War II, with two years overseas in the Persian Gulf Transport Command. He attended UCLA under the GI Bill of Rights, and since 1951 he has been a resident of Santa Monica, California. Home improvement and landscaping have been his main hobbies, and he has been happily married for many years.
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