This now sweet, small-town guy from Whitehall, IL (yes, I’ve never heard of it either) was once self-admittedly not-so-sweet, living in one of two opposing worlds: having no self-worth whatsoever or the mindset of, “I’m better than everybody else.”

 Listen as Terry starts the pod stating his mother gave birth to him, was married and widowed before the age of 16. This premature start and the immediate absence of his alcoholic, biological father set Terry up for a tough road. This road included, but was not limited to, a daughter he discovered when she was 6, a Hepatitis C diagnosis, multiple incarcerations, failed relationships, seeing his partner overdose and die beside him from “body bag dope” he bought a few times a week (not his rock bottom) and watching history repeat itself in a son. A son that is angry and placing blame on his dad. Terry and I have a back-and-forth on the likelihood and reality of passing on the disease to your children. Terry isn’t sure he was born with alcoholism or drug addiction but for certain he says he suffers from moreism. His sobriety and the people who helped get him to where he is today: gainfully employed, relatively healthy and in love, is not lost on Terry. His tears and gratitude are very apparent in this brutally courageous conversation. 

Emily Harrington, here! Mom, wife, retired communications liaison and host of the HyperLocal(s) Podcast. Each week I bring you a pod where townies and transplants share their tales of tears and triumphs, losses and wins. In an effort to provide a way for those that don’t want a public podcast, but still have a story to tell friends and family, I’ve created, In Retrospect: A HyperLocal(s) Project, a private podcast. Visit hyperlocalscu.com/in-retrospect

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