Disparity: An Autobiography of a Man with a Hungry Heart

Peter Talty and I met a few years ago in a retirement community in Florida. We quickly became friends, partially because of our common background: we both were born and raised in the same area of the northeast, and we both had long careers as college professors. Nonetheless, I was surprised when several months ago he asked me to read his life story. I had no idea that writing this had become for him a major retirement project. I did not even know that he was interested in being a writer, which I now consider him to be. I found Peter's long and detailed life story to be interesting and engaging in so many ways. His approach is akin to the "Dear Reader" author/reader relationship, in which he consistently guides his reader. He invites the reader on a long journey, one that has not yet ended. There are many very effectively developed episodes or stories along the way. As is common with many memoirs, except for those written by noted personages or witnesses of significant historical events, the primary readers of Peter's memoir are intended to be members of his family. There is a strong sense of family throughout his entire memoir - in a family that many may consider dysfunctional. (Alcoholism and mental illness are family afflictions.) Peter remains the "man in the middle" in any family feuds that develop throughout the narrative. He often initiates actions which cause tension in the family, but then ironically works effectively to resolve the tension. A particular type of cynical humor, known as "Talty humor," prevails, as a bonding agent, whenever family members get together. Peter's family (and true friends) always remain dear to him. Nor does he ever take them, particularly his wife Janice, for granted. Throughout the memoir, Peter demonstrates his ability to analyze and verbalize what motivates him. DISPARITY is the ever-present theme, and the majority of the action is initiated by him because, from his own unique viewpoint, he has a driving need to improve his situation and that of those he cares about. He is forever striving to reduce or eliminate his acute sense of disparity. He doesn't simply report what is happening. In most cases, he causes it to happen. Others in his life (e.g., his sister Sue, his brother Bernie, or his wife Janice) play major supporting roles, but Peter always remains the protagonist. This is mainly because of how his mind operates. He gets an idea for a change, identifies potential obstacles, develops a plan to overcome those obstacles, and immediately begins to put that plan into action. (Action is always better than inaction.) Only at this point does he inform others of the change he is unilaterally attempting to bring about - no matter how close to him they are or no matter how much the change may affect them. A corollary to the "disparity" theme is that of "risk taking." If one is driven to act - and act quickly - one must be prepared for, or even seek, high risks. As a teenager and young adult, this meant adopting the role of "tough guy Pete" and engaging in highly questionable, even illegal, behaviors. But, while he provides his rationale at the time for these behaviors, he never attempts to justify them to the reader and often reflects upon the lack of wisdom, and common sense, behind them. He often expresses regret for hurting those who love him and whom he loves. Particularly in his later years, the possible negative consequences of his risk taking seem to have resulted in a strengthening of his Faith. All memoirs are written accounts of their authors' memories of their personal experiences. A major feature of Peter's memoir is the very impressive memory for the detail it displays. Names of numerous people and places fill its pages. Pseudonyms are provided for those who most likely would prefer anonymity. (In such cases, the pseudonyms are not always complimentary.) Most noticeable is the exactitude with which he presents details of the many places he has lived, most in the Buffalo area, and the many places he has worked. The flow of life is filled with joys, challenges, sorrows, and regrets. I know that much of what Peter has written in his memoir was difficult for him to write. But it takes courage to remember and then to present those memories fully and honestly. This memoir reveals that courage. It is obvious that this memoir is written by an experienced healthcare professional, not only because the narrator recalls his studies, his employment, his self-employment, and his teaching in the field of occupational therapy, but also because he consistently views his life as a professional through the eyes of an occupational therapist, and he provides appropriate explanations for the reader. As Peter teaches his students, he teaches his readers. During most of his adult life, Peter's recreational passion has been hiking and canoeing, most often in his beloved Adirondacks, and he entertains us with memorable stories of wilderness adventures. In recent years he has begun a foray into acting, and just as he has sought to improve himself in all his life's endeavors by reading and study, so it has been with acting. Although his actual stage experience in this relatively recent activity is still rather minimal, all acting is not done on stage. His memoir reveals that he has been playing various roles throughout his life and that he has much experience cultivating his vivid sense of the theatrical. Although Peter's focus is upon himself and upon those with whom he has come into contact throughout his life, I believe his memoir will appeal to a wider audience than those included in his story. He not only remembers, he reflects deeply upon those memories, and in so doing he invites the reader to make personal applications. Having read Peter's life story and despite now knowing more of what we do not have in common, I have been enriched by my friend's life. Robert J. Margrett Professor Emeritus University of Wisconsin Colleges