THE GROWING SEASON: Frank Beazley and the meaning of life

About this book

THE GROWING A STORY OF A REMARKABLE MAN UNLIKE ANY OTHEROUTSIDERS KNEW FRANK BEAZLEY as a poet who'd won national awards and as an artist who painted in an impressionist style, donating the proceeds from his acrylics and water colors to charity. They knew him as an eloquent man who spoke for those less fortunate than he at legislative hearings. Vice President Al Gore was among those who had honored his advocacy. I had met Frank many years ago, and I wrote a story about him, published in December 1992, in which he disclosed that all he'd ever wanted for Christmas was to have his mother call him "son." Frank intrigued me, but my work took me elsewhere and it wasn't until much later that I set out to learn more about him. His story was unlike any I have ever told.Frank had been abandoned at birth, and experienced a paralyzing accident, the loss of the woman he loved, and cancer. He never knew his father. He didn't meet his mother until he was a teenager, but she refused to confirm who she was, refused to ever call him "son" - even though he later lived in the same house with her and her mother, his grandmother. In Frank's native Nova Scotia, a heartless secrecy surrounded children like him who had been born out of wedlock. Often, these secrets followed their keepers to the grave.He had his dark moments, to be sure, but they were rare. The Frank I came to know was a man of goodwill. He told jokes (sometimes corny ones) and funny stories, and his laugh was contagious. He taught mostly by example - lessons about patience and forgiveness, of the importance of smelling roses and counting blessings, which he did not consider cliches. And while he was too humble to call himself wise, he was. ALL PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF THIS BOOK WILL BE DONATED TO ADVOCATES IN ACTION RHODE ISLAND!