John Elliott and Luella May welcome you to the Seventh Edition of
Women of Courage
Each week we will honor a woman that has truly made a difference by her
contributions, courage, love, and selflessness. Women honored will be chosen from inside AdlandPro, outside AdlandPro, living in the present, and yes, we will not forget those heroines that paved the way for the freedoms we now enjoy. We will honor women who have shown tremendous courage and fortitude against all odds.
Assisting us in coordinating these awards are four outstanding ladies who are Women of Courage in their own right.
Presenting:
LaNell
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/44064/default.aspx
Carla Cash
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/245569/default.aspx
Veronica Davidson
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/vdavidson1972/default.aspx
Joyce Hyde
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/031849/default.aspx
Shirley Caron http://community.adlandpro.com/go/scaronpoet2005/default.aspx
And Adlands very own Men of Courage:
Georgios Paraskevpoulos http://community.adlandpro.com/go/Genesis/default.aspx
John Partington http://community.adlandpro.com/go/114695/default.aspx
WE PRESENT TO YOU OUR SEVENTH WOMAN OF COURAGE
Shirley Caron
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/scaronpoet2005/default.aspx
When you firdst meet Shirley, she gives the impression of being a person without a care in the world. However, as you get to know her, you discover that she is kind and gentle on the outside, yet tough as nails on the inside.
Her husband Mike once asked her how she could Love God with all the Sucker Punches he had landed her throughout her life. This was Shirley's reply:
"Never blame God for what Man has Done. He made us, and His Son died for us, so if you want to talk about Sucker Punches, Drive a Nail in each hand, and one through your legs, and run a Sword in your side and come back and talk to me about Sucker Punches."
There is nothing superficial about Shirley. She tells it like it is. To know Shirley is to know her true essence. She is a true friend, one that cares about you and will not hesitate to tell you the truth when you need to hear it.
Shirley began her singing career with her mother. They would sing together while her mother played the Ukelelei. These are her sweet memories. However, her memories of her dad are not as sweet. They were filled with terror and abuse. She remembers her dad coming in drunk. She remembers the arguments in the next room which made her impossible to sleep. Then one day she heard her father say that he hadn't wanted kids anyway. I cannot imagine the heartbreak of a child hearing these words from her father.
Shirley's childhood was most unhappy and traumatic. For just doing the things children do, her father would beat her with a broom or his belt almost daily. Shirley states that she cannot remember her pre-teen years. She says that when she tries to recall them, a chill runs up her spine.
I often feel there is a surreal bond between parent and child, even when it is a circumstance of abuser and abusee. I don't speak of a pleasant bond, but a heart wrenching bond. Shirley was the only one by his side when her father passed on. She wasn't there by choice, but quite by accident. Yet, she was destined to be there when her dad said goodbye. Her dad had called Shirley to get him a drink of water, as he was ill in bed. As she entered the room with his water, she saw his eyes roll back into his head, and then he was gone.
An abused child tends to assume responsibility for their parents needs, welfare, and happiness. This comes from the belief that they are receiving this punishment because they are bad. They start assuming that everything is their fault and, therefore, do all they can to comfort and look after their parents. Putting her grief aside, she did all she could to comfort her mother, who was dealing with the death and her own feelings of abuse. Shirley did all she could to take care of her distraught mother, but it reached a point that her mother needed to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Although she had no choice, again the "abused" child with tears in her eyes signed the papers so her mother would be admitted.
Shirley not only endured pain and abuse in her home, but she was also the victim of abuse outside the home. Shirley was overweight and was subject to bullies and their taunting.
She has been the victim of attacks several times during her life with one attempted murder. Luckily, her adrenalin rose to such proportions that she was able to break free, thus saving her life. The most violating of attacks occurred when three young men broke into her apartment. She was robbed and repeatedly raped, not only by the attackers, but also by men dressed as policemen.
They say that women tend to marry someone exactly like their father. This is exactly what Shirley did and she endured many years of severe abuse.
Shirley has a myriad of health problems which started with epilepsy in her teen years. The seizured became progressively worse after her son was born. She survived being hit by a car while crossing the street and has two steel rods in her back because of it.
With all this calamity, many would have given up. Not Shirley. She has never lost sight of that silver lining. Shirley has gone on to be a renowned poet and singer receiving many awards. Some examples are, World of Poetry, The National Library of Poets, the International Society of Poets, Creative Arts Y Science Enterprise, Inc., Sparrowgrass, Iliad Press, Watermark Press, The American League of Poets, Poetry.com, and Noble House (a Poetry Division located in London, England.
Shirley has had articles written about her in three different newspapers: The Southside Times (Indianapolis), The Spotlight (Indianapolis), and The Taunton Gazette (Taunton, Massachusetts). Shirley has done a Presentation at the Church of the Lakes in Nineveh, Indiana and had a record contract for four years with Emerald Records in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mike and Shirley are currently putting together a band. They are looking for a male vocalist, a guitarist, a drummer, and a keyboard (synthesizer) player. If anyone out there with those qualifications, please contact Mike and Shirley at 317-887-2819 or E-mail them at: Songartist1@netscape.com
Shirley, you are a true example of a Woman of Courage. You are a perfect example of someone who has shown tremendous courage and fortitude against all odds. We love you!
Luella May