This little book tells what my life was like as a child and youth. I was always in trouble, within my family and outside of it. I was impulsive and speedy, reckless and contrary, and I'm sure the adults dealing with me had no idea why. What is known now, but was not known then, was that I had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD would not be a recognized condition until the 1970s. What I believed about myself, when growing up in Calgary in the 1950s and 60s, was that I was a 'bad kid'. I believed that because that's how adults labelled kids like me.
The choices I've made seem like the only true way to convey the ADHD experience. Let the kid and the teenage Greg Axelson tell the story, as experienced. The result? Speedy talk. Impulsivity. Random, erratic activity. Then the reader rides along and hopefully gets a sense of what it all felt like.
I expect that my story will be very like those of other ADHD kids: that all of us probably had similar experiences. Although I couldn't really communicate at the time, I always felt isolated, lonely, anxious, and somehow defective (a no-no). I was often frustrated and angry, and also sad. Something seemed wrong about me, and I didn't know what!
About the Author :
The Axeman lives in Cochrane, Alberta. He often feels alone and isolated. But he has two daughters he is tight with, and a new granddaughter he hopes will become a good friend. He enjoys putzing around the flower gardens and doing yardwork. He tries to repurpose things and create art from found objects. He reads good books, listens to good music, whatever the genre. He often sets out on long wandering rides on a motorcycle and stops to take cell phone photos from near the ditch. He has been a steadfast Steelers fan since 1970 and when he hits a sports bar to watch them play, he wears a Jack Lambert or Jack Ham or Joe Greene jersey, pounding back soda and cranberry juice hiballs.
Review :
"With courage, honesty, and a self-deprecating sense of humour, Greg Axelson tells a story of triumph over seemingly impossible odds. This is a heartening and inspiring read!"
JoAnn McCaig
"Few life stories have surprising or shocking events at every point, but Greg Axelson's life, as portrayed here, is like that. A white-knuckle ride."
Fred Stenson
"I was captivated immediately by this book. Us ADHDers need a book like this that illustrates the way we sometimes behave and helps us and others understand its source. I loved this book."
Frankie G.
"I enjoyed this strange little book. It's a righteous effort. I felt a real sense of déjà vu when reading it."
Greg Axelson
