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A Grateful Life: The life story of a husband, father, and taco loving dead head.
Having just missed his parents wedding by weeks, Tom Powell Jr was about to start off life at a serious disadvantage. The unwanted byproduct of a one-night stand, he began life in an untenable position that only became worse.
After overcoming child abuse at the hands of his mother, becoming a child of divorce, and eventually dropping out of high school, Tom began to learn his own way through life while living on the road. First while working for a carnival, and then following The Grateful Dead, he would eventually spend four years of his life living in a tent while hitchhiking across the country in an attempt to find his way in the world.
He would eventually be forced from the nomadic lifestyle by the death of the leader of The Grateful dead, Jerry Garcia, which led him into the waiting arms of the landscape industry, and his eventually wife, Renee. After over two decades in his chosen field, and just when life seemed to be going smoothly, he would face another challenge…taking care of his father in the last years of his life.
From an inauspicious beginning, to a life on the road, he would eventually overcome it all to find success and an early retirement at the age of forty-five. He now finds himself re-inventing who he is as he enters his middle age years, waiting to see what path he is led down next. ‘
This book is his life’s story. It will make you laugh at times, and at times it will turn your stomach. Parts of this book will remind you of your own family, while harkening you back to the old neighborhood and those times when family would always gather together every weekend.
So, sit back and enjoy the rather odd life of one aging hippie.
Peace. Love. Tacos.
After overcoming child abuse at the hands of his mother, becoming a child of divorce, and eventually dropping out of high school, Tom began to learn his own way through life while living on the road. First while working for a carnival, and then following The Grateful Dead, he would eventually spend four years of his life living in a tent while hitchhiking across the country in an attempt to find his way in the world.
He would eventually be forced from the nomadic lifestyle by the death of the leader of The Grateful dead, Jerry Garcia, which led him into the waiting arms of the landscape industry, and his eventually wife, Renee. After over two decades in his chosen field, and just when life seemed to be going smoothly, he would face another challenge…taking care of his father in the last years of his life.
From an inauspicious beginning, to a life on the road, he would eventually overcome it all to find success and an early retirement at the age of forty-five. He now finds himself re-inventing who he is as he enters his middle age years, waiting to see what path he is led down next. ‘
This book is his life’s story. It will make you laugh at times, and at times it will turn your stomach. Parts of this book will remind you of your own family, while harkening you back to the old neighborhood and those times when family would always gather together every weekend.
So, sit back and enjoy the rather odd life of one aging hippie.
Peace. Love. Tacos.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2018
5 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 19, 2018
Making his debut publication, Tom Powell, Jr's autobiography "A Grateful Life: The life story of a husband, father, and taco loving dead head" begins with the question: "If someone wrote a book about your life, would anyone want to read it?". The answer is found in this page turner where Tom Powell Jr pours out details of his life traveling America, growing up in Chicago, family, work and friends. It would be entirely possible to take a tour of the destinations visited in "A Grateful Life" as the descriptions and places of his past are mapped out so accurately, I would be able to find them without a GPS. Being from the area myself, it made me nestalgic for my old hometown and craving the freedom youth had to offer. One I did not take advantage of, but Tom lived to the fullest and outlines in his book. Being caught up in the book, I was able to live vicariously through him. Through his triumphs and hardships, I found myself wanting to hear more stories about the people he met while hitchhiking, adventures with childhood friends, his days spent as a carnie, and his time touring with The Greatful Dead. This book reads as if the author was sitting with you, telling his story. His ability to be descriptive while being direct is appreciated as I found myself anxiously reading; wanting to know what situation he was going to find himself in next. There is more to be told than lie in the pages of this book. The author hints that there is more to come and as for me, Yes.I would want to read it.
November 17, 2023
Seems like my friend…
Wonderfully told. Have enjoyed your social media content, your logic, your ability to express yourself for a number of years now. Just wanted to understand more. As I read this tale, I found myself drinking in the evolution, the history Tom was sharing. The warmth of the humanity with radiates outward through all of these chapters.
As a result, the more I got to appreciate Tom, his value of family, his passion. And because of how well the story is told, Tom of the book here becomes the reader’s friend. Truly someone you’d love to have in your neighborhood, to be able to spend time with.
A wonderfully human tale, and a down-to-earth share. I’m grateful for having had this peek into Tom’s life.
Wonderfully told. Have enjoyed your social media content, your logic, your ability to express yourself for a number of years now. Just wanted to understand more. As I read this tale, I found myself drinking in the evolution, the history Tom was sharing. The warmth of the humanity with radiates outward through all of these chapters.
As a result, the more I got to appreciate Tom, his value of family, his passion. And because of how well the story is told, Tom of the book here becomes the reader’s friend. Truly someone you’d love to have in your neighborhood, to be able to spend time with.
A wonderfully human tale, and a down-to-earth share. I’m grateful for having had this peek into Tom’s life.
February 21, 2022
Surprisingly loved this!
I started following Tom on tictok during covid, what else was there to do? Sometimes he's a little raw, but I accept that because its his truth. Will read his next books also, way to go Tom, thanks for being brave enough to share. KR
I started following Tom on tictok during covid, what else was there to do? Sometimes he's a little raw, but I accept that because its his truth. Will read his next books also, way to go Tom, thanks for being brave enough to share. KR
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews