Andrea Hollingsworth

But back in the 1960s, he was a young man navigating his way in the world. He grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota, and he kind of tried college, but that wasn't for him. And around the age of 20, he got a job working at a manufacturing plant in Anoka, Minnesota, which is where I'm from. And at the time, he was dating a girl named Tess. And Tess got pregnant unexpectedly.

But back in the 1960s, he was a young man navigating his way in the world. He grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota, and he kind of tried college, but that wasn't for him. And around the age of 20, he got a job working at a manufacturing plant in Anoka, Minnesota, which is where I'm from. And at the time, he was dating a girl named Tess. And Tess got pregnant unexpectedly.

And back in those days, what people often did is they just got married. And so that's what they did. They got married. And by the time my stepdad was 24, he found himself a family man, the father of three young children. And he had a job working on the floor of a manufacturing plant. Life was going along okay until Tess was diagnosed with a fatal liver disorder.

And back in those days, what people often did is they just got married. And so that's what they did. They got married. And by the time my stepdad was 24, he found himself a family man, the father of three young children. And he had a job working on the floor of a manufacturing plant. Life was going along okay until Tess was diagnosed with a fatal liver disorder.

And back in those days, what people often did is they just got married. And so that's what they did. They got married. And by the time my stepdad was 24, he found himself a family man, the father of three young children. And he had a job working on the floor of a manufacturing plant. Life was going along okay until Tess was diagnosed with a fatal liver disorder.

And so then at the tender age of 24, my stepdad found himself a widower with three young children under the age of five. And it was devastating. Now, my stepdad, I'll just I'll call him Jerry. That was his name, Jerry. His boss at Federal Cartridge, where he worked, was a guy named R.B., old R.B. I grew up hearing stories of old R.B. because R.B. saw Jerry struggling. He observed Jerry.

And so then at the tender age of 24, my stepdad found himself a widower with three young children under the age of five. And it was devastating. Now, my stepdad, I'll just I'll call him Jerry. That was his name, Jerry. His boss at Federal Cartridge, where he worked, was a guy named R.B., old R.B. I grew up hearing stories of old R.B. because R.B. saw Jerry struggling. He observed Jerry.

And so then at the tender age of 24, my stepdad found himself a widower with three young children under the age of five. And it was devastating. Now, my stepdad, I'll just I'll call him Jerry. That was his name, Jerry. His boss at Federal Cartridge, where he worked, was a guy named R.B., old R.B. I grew up hearing stories of old R.B. because R.B. saw Jerry struggling. He observed Jerry.

He started coming in late to work. He was clearly hungover from another night of closing out the bars in Anoka, Minnesota. He knew that Jerry was dropping his three kids off at Ma and Pa's for long stretches and just really, really struggling to hold on to himself. And old RB, he believed in Jerry. He had been the one to hire him. Here's a kid who knows how to work hard.

He started coming in late to work. He was clearly hungover from another night of closing out the bars in Anoka, Minnesota. He knew that Jerry was dropping his three kids off at Ma and Pa's for long stretches and just really, really struggling to hold on to himself. And old RB, he believed in Jerry. He had been the one to hire him. Here's a kid who knows how to work hard.

He started coming in late to work. He was clearly hungover from another night of closing out the bars in Anoka, Minnesota. He knew that Jerry was dropping his three kids off at Ma and Pa's for long stretches and just really, really struggling to hold on to himself. And old RB, he believed in Jerry. He had been the one to hire him. Here's a kid who knows how to work hard.

Here's a kid who cares about other people. Here's a kid who's got promise, who's got that burn in the belly. You know, he gave it some time. He was compassionate. But after a while, after enough, you know, late late showing up to work, he was kind of frustrated. So he pulled my stepdad aside and he said, look, kid, I know I can't even begin to understand what you must be going through right now.

Here's a kid who cares about other people. Here's a kid who's got promise, who's got that burn in the belly. You know, he gave it some time. He was compassionate. But after a while, after enough, you know, late late showing up to work, he was kind of frustrated. So he pulled my stepdad aside and he said, look, kid, I know I can't even begin to understand what you must be going through right now.

Here's a kid who cares about other people. Here's a kid who's got promise, who's got that burn in the belly. You know, he gave it some time. He was compassionate. But after a while, after enough, you know, late late showing up to work, he was kind of frustrated. So he pulled my stepdad aside and he said, look, kid, I know I can't even begin to understand what you must be going through right now.

And I feel for you. I really, really do feel for you. But you're coming in late to work. Everybody here knows you're drinking too much. You're dropping your kids off at your parents for long straight. Your kids need you right now. And you got to pull yourself together. And if you don't, you've got a pink slip coming. But here's the other thing, kiddo. I care about you.

And I feel for you. I really, really do feel for you. But you're coming in late to work. Everybody here knows you're drinking too much. You're dropping your kids off at your parents for long straight. Your kids need you right now. And you got to pull yourself together. And if you don't, you've got a pink slip coming. But here's the other thing, kiddo. I care about you.

And I feel for you. I really, really do feel for you. But you're coming in late to work. Everybody here knows you're drinking too much. You're dropping your kids off at your parents for long straight. Your kids need you right now. And you got to pull yourself together. And if you don't, you've got a pink slip coming. But here's the other thing, kiddo. I care about you.

And say, I've been going to the local AA group at the local parish for a long time. And if you'd ever like to come, we'd love to have you. And so that was a turning point for my dad in a moment of deep struggle and of deep trauma. My dad did indeed start to go to the AA group.

And say, I've been going to the local AA group at the local parish for a long time. And if you'd ever like to come, we'd love to have you. And so that was a turning point for my dad in a moment of deep struggle and of deep trauma. My dad did indeed start to go to the AA group.

And say, I've been going to the local AA group at the local parish for a long time. And if you'd ever like to come, we'd love to have you. And so that was a turning point for my dad in a moment of deep struggle and of deep trauma. My dad did indeed start to go to the AA group.