Goodbye, Mary Janes

"Enjoy your childhood. Have fun while you can." That's what parents tell their children. Jane Adleyn Geiger did enjoy her childhood immensely. Her blessings in life include a Christian upbringing, two wonderful (most of the time) sisters, loving parents, and a middle-class economic privilege. Her story begins with a recreation of her grandparents' and parents' courtship and marriage. Her parents were married just a few days before the Stock Market crashed in 1929, and they suffered many hardships of life over the next few years. Adleyn grew up during the 1950's, and has written this stimulating account of her childhood, her school years, and her musical journey. A teen pregnancy and her subsequent marriage changed the focus of her life from high school, friends, and the possibility of a music conservatory experience to that of family survival. She has included stories of her family, friends, and teachers who helped her succeed along the way. Often hilarious, this nostalgic retelling of her childhood is a universal project of many adults, though many do not have the nerve to put it in writing. Included in the book is a personal letter to each of her children, telling about the special memories that make each one so unique. Adleyn's fascination with shoes - the way they look, the way they feel, and the way the smell (when they're new) has given her a theme for the entire story. During many of the pivotal junctions in her life, her shoes of the times were an integral part of the major events. New shoes became a Rite of Passage to new places in life's journey. Imagine wearing a comfortable pair of Mary Janes while you read this story of courage, perseverance, and determination.