Don't Throw Away Your Stick Till You Cross the River
by Vincent Beach
Author travels a remarkable journey armed
with little more than his parents' wisdom
New autobiography affirms the power of optimism and persistence
"At three o'clock, we'd walk home from school," writes author Vincent Beach in describing his childhood in rural Jamaica in the late 1920s. "I'd bring my slate with a piece of chalk and hope that my homework didn't wash away from the rain or humidity by the time I got home."
With a gentle father he referred to as Mas T and strict mother he called Miss Rosa, Beach's childhood prepared him for the rigors of life he was about to face. He knew if he stayed in Jamaica that he'd be denied the future he envisioned for himself. So he enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1944.
Following World War II, he aspired to become a jazz musician. With no music background, he bought an old clarinet and began to practice. Emigrating to the United States, he immediately encountered the ugliness of racism and segregation. He retreated to England for a time, but once more decided he must try for the "American dream." Armed with more wisdom and resolve, he returned to America in 1955 and joined the United States Air Force serving as a military bandsman for 22 years. Becoming an educator and counselor, he spent the next 23 years sharing his wisdom and knowledge with children on the Navajo Reservation and finally as a community college instructor in political science and psychology in Chandler, Arizona.
Over the past 82 years, Vincent has seen and experienced a lot-from war, to racism, to love found and lost, to the birth of his children, and the tragic deaths of two of them from Lupus. Vincent details finding a new love late in life and creating a home base for the adult children who had been devastated by life circumstances. The stories of each child are told with insight and honesty. Vincent and his wife Anni received the "2003 National Excellence in Parenting Award" from the National Parents' Day Council in Washington, D.C. The award was given in recognition of their dedication in helping the rainbow of children in their "bread and butter" neighborhood learn to play bluegrass music. Each event was a river to be crossed. The old adage of his mother which titles his autobiography has given him the perseverance and dedication to pursue life to its fullest despite setbacks, pitfalls, and tragedy.
In his storied autobiography-Don't Throw Away Your Stick Till You Cross the River-written with the help of his wife Anni, Vincent shares the intimate details of his inspiring life. An ordinary man by his own description, Vincent says he wrote it because he believes life stories provide an opportunity to better understand the complexities of human beings and the realities of every day living.
Scheduled for release in 2007, Don't Throw Away Your Stick Till You Cross the River (ISBN 1-58985-057-2 / ISBN: 978-1-58985-057-6), nonfiction, paperback, is published by Five Star Publications, P.O. Box 6698, Chandler AZ 85246-6698. The book will be available through Ingram and Baker & Taylor. To request a review copy and/or to schedule an interview with the author, please contact the publisher.
Web site: http://www.dontthrowawayyourstick.com
ISBN: 978-1-58985-076-7
Retail: $ 14.95
Publisher: Five Star Publications, Inc.
Date Published: 2007
Paperback
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