Life and Times: A Memoir [Paperback]

Dorothy Whitner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2006

From rags to riches. One lady, five children and millions of dollars later. Follow the incredible journey of one woman's lifetime experiences.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

I never really knew what compelled me to write this book. I hated to write. It is laborious for me to compose a sentence. I do feel that I have a story to tell. A story that may benefit some and may just interest others. The few people that have read my book said it read more like a novel. I think it read more like a fairy tale but I assure you it is my life just as accurate as I can remember it. I have come to the conclusion that we are "designed" before we are born. Sometimes I wake up in the morning thinking "How in the world did I get here?" I believe I have been happier than most and probably more deeply depressed. However, I feel grateful that the peace and joy have far out exceeded my pain and frustration.

The second section is much different than the first and is probably very dull. The long dissertation on the Merill Lynch Insurance policy should be condensed. I did want people to recognize what unscrupulous fraud goes on in the market. But I want it interesting and not boring.

I have always been envious of the happy families where man and wife live with their children and each work hard for the family as a whole. They can disagree and argue and fight and hate each other for a moment and then feel remorse and cry bend over backwards to make up for their tirades. They stand by you with all their might against any wrong done to you. They can express themselves and vent their frustrations. I have two sisters who have had such luck. Now, I will not tell you that it is easy. They had rough times, very rough. But it was the way I wanted itÉ

I came from a broken home. Yet, I had most of the enviable qualities of a stable home. Love and discipline and sharing and support, mentally and physically. And I was a happy child. I had a very strong mother. She was not educated but she was wise and loving. My sisters were very much like her. They all had a very important part in my childhood.

I had a very good grade school education. Teachers were greatly respected. If you were disciplined at school you were in real trouble at home. My teachers had a tremendous influence on me. They were educated. Most of the parents were not educated but they had a strong desire for their children to be educated. I loved most of my teachers. And I am sure they loved me because they gave me lots of attention.

I don't feel that my children had those advantages. I loved them with all my heart and their father loved them. But it was a pretty sorry home. He was the first man I had ever fallen deeply in love with. And I was just another Scarlet O'Hara. I never gave up. On the first day of our married life Gatewood was so despondent and when I tried to get him to tell me why, all he could say was "I should never have gotten married". This is not a thing a bride wants to hear and I felt very hurt.

But I am a very confident person. I just knew I could make him happy. I tried all the harder to please him. He was never cruel or abusive but he was never happy and I was unable to communicate with him. It wasn't what you would call a happy home. This was the atmosphere of the children's early life. It surely wasn't ideal. The twins never really had a father. This went on for about eight years when Gatewood decided he had to have his freedom.

It took me quite a while to realize that it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I began a whole new life full of fun, excitement, success, problems, and frustrations. I hope I get to do it again and retain the things I've learned in this go round.

Dorothy Miller Whitner

Product Details

• Paperback: 434 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (June 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553956516
• ISBN-13: 978-1553956518
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,414,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)