Precerpt from Nothing So Broken (Richards) - how to wrestle with your father

Coming Soon! Available now on pre-order! Nothing So Broken - war, memoir, more. Today we provide a precerpt (an excerpt from a book not yet published) - especially in honor of military appreciation month.

-how to wrestle with your father-

First, you will need a brother who enjoys conflict. He will make excellent fodder. Second, you require a co-conspirator mother. As you crawl under the kitchen table, give her the shhh sign and wait for her nod that the coast is clear. Finally, you will need a low-lying lounger with a nonlinear profile in the living room (affectionately named the Black Bear) where your father likes to relax and read.

When your father is properly engrossed in his book, send in your brother like William Wallace at the raid of Scone. It is good if your brother is long and lanky, requiring both of your father’s hands to contain. It is even better if he is armed with a pillow or stuffed animal. Once your brother is wrapped and wriggling and giggling, flank your father. If possible, climb onto the top of the Black Bear and leap. Notice how your father hardly moves when you land on his back, which feels as broad as a car hood. Focus on tickling his neck, because everywhere else will feel like tickling sheetrock. When your brother is worn out, your father will flip you off his back and tickle both of you, side by side. Puppies have to play! he will say, grinning. If he is unshaven, he may rub his scruff gently on your neck or belly, causing you to shriek. Your mother will watch and laugh and say she’s not getting involved as you plead for rescue. If you have a dog, it will likely bark and wag its tail in excitement but do not expect any help. It may even happily lick your face.

When you finally escape, retreat to your bedroom to devise your next strategy. Notice how exhaustion complements joy. This will be important.

Book description:

In the shadow of loss, a path to healing begins.

Chris Richards grew up in a small New England mill town, where life was tough and loyalty ran deep. At just 19, his world was shaken when a close friend was left permanently disabled by a devastating accident. At the same time, Chris’s father began to show troubling symptoms linked to his service in the Vietnam War—unseen wounds that would slowly unravel the man he once knew.

The weight of watching two people he loved unravel under the strain of trauma and physical decline left deep scars—ones Chris carried silently into adulthood. For years, he buried his grief and fear, never imagining that one day, facing his own crisis, he would turn to their stories for strength.

This powerful and moving memoir explores the enduring impact of trauma, the quiet power of resilience, and how even the most broken lives can become sources of inspiration. Born of hardship, shaped by loss, and redeemed through reflection, Chris’s story is a testament to the human spirit and the healing that can come from finally confronting the past.

Keywords:

New England memoir, Vietnam War legacy, trauma and healing memoir, coming-of-age true story, memoir about father and son, real-life story of resilience, personal story of grief and growth, emotional healing journey, memoir of small-town life, family trauma memoir, impact of war on families, veterans and PTSD family stories, intergenerational trauma, inspirational memoir about loss, adult child of a veteran, memoir set in a mill town, friendship and tragedy true story, memoir about overcoming fear and grief, how to heal from family trauma, memoir about growing up with a veteran parent, finding hope through personal crisis, true story of surviving emotional loss, lessons from a father's wartime wounds, memoir about friendship, trauma, and redemption

For more posts about Chris and his book, click HERE.

Read more posts about PTSD HERE.

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