The Day the Dream Changed

Book excerpt: As Rick grows up during 1960s America, he is certain of one thing: he is an oddball kid who views life differently than others his age. The fourth of nine children raised by a moody and sometimes mysterious, alcoholic father and a devoutly Catholic mother, Rick is focused on nurturing his love of music, carrying out boyhood pranks, and working hard to be a good boy so he can become a priest one day. But as Rick is about to discover, sometimes the realities of life get in the way of dreams. After a tough old teacher changes his mind about serving God, Rick transfers to a public high school, where he begins running with the wrong crowd. As he continues to work on his music and turns sixteen, everything changes when his girlfriend, Elise, announces she is pregnant. After Rick decides to marry Elise, his life moves in a new direction filled with work, night classes and training, and more children. But as Rick forges ahead, he has no idea that life will ultimately lead him to learn a valuable lesson about loyalty, forgiveness, and the power of unconditional love. The Day the Dream Changed shares the captivating tale of a boys coming-of-age journey as he matures into manhood and discovers the secret to true happiness.