Gravel Soldiers

Terry had a very adventurous life that was filled with a great deal of chaos and happy moments. Growing up, he was a sort of rebel. He didn’t like being in a Catholic school much and detested his teachers. He didn’t do well in school due to dyslexia, so it didn’t come as a surprise when he dropped out of high school at 16. Staying at home wasn’t an option, as his father was abusive, violent, and disappointed in him. He picked up jobs that didn’t last long, as problems always came up. He eventually stumbled on Sandy, and they were infatuated by each other. The girl was one year older, but that didn’t matter, and she soon got pregnant for him. Terry had to start raising a family at a young age and owned up to the task.

As the years went by, Sandy became the breadwinner of the family, while Terry spent his time on his bike and rolling with hippies. He got into flings with multiple women. He did not fulfill most of my responsibilities as a father and husband. Terry mingled with bad company and became exposed to drugs. He almost lost his life to addiction, but luckily, he became sober.

His marriage was affected by his multiple affairs, and he had anger issues that he seemed to have inherited from his father. Things take a turn when he decides to go back to school and finally gets his degree at 40. He also worked at the hospital, helping people who were addicts suffering from mental issues. He had experienced childhood trauma and knew what it was like. Not surprisingly, his marriage ended. Will he find love again?

Terry is a daring man. It takes a lot of courage to leave home at such a young age to fend for himself. Sadly, he didn’t feel enough care and attention from his parents, especially his father. He resorted to his grandparents for emotional connection. He was quite the man and I marveled at his sexual escapades. His love for his bike and cars was quite interesting, as he stayed in the motor parts trade for a long time. Terry Iwanski is not perfect; he’s got so many flaws; however, he made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. Gravel Soldiers by Terry Iwanski is filled with interesting stories from his childhood, marriages, and friendships. Some parts brought a smile to my face, and overall, I’m glad I discovered this fascinating memoir.