Sheri Entz Blackmon

This memoir evolved out of a cancer recurrence marked by surgical failures, setbacks, and a search for a way forward. It is more than a cancer story and a memoir, but it is a springboard for diving into the universal experience of loss when plans are slammed and life is derailed. I weave together current with childhood narratives of growing up on two continents. Holocaust survivor stories of my mother, reflections on being a pastor and teacher, insights from my Clinical Psychologist husband, and other inspirational narratives are entwined to illustrate the paradox of losing one’s life to find it.

My life-long interests in English and theology are woven into this book. I have B.A.s in Religious Studies and English Literature from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA and an M.Div. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. I was ordained as pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1989. I served in church ministry for 15 years where I assisted in a new church development. After this I moved into education at an independent College preparatory school where I have been for the last 21 years, serving first as founding member, chaplain, department chair in Bible/theology before becoming an English instructor.

Two fun facts about my career: even the most unlikely people can excel if they have the passion to grow and learn. Growing up in Germany, I spoke only German for the first six years of school. When I moved to the USA literally overnight, I was put in remedial English. My love of language propelled me to choose an English major in college, which came full circle at the end of my career as I started teaching English to high school students. The second fact is that you can re-invent your career more than once given the opportunity. Conclusion: be a self-starter.

This book is for you or someone in your life who is facing a life disrupter. When a disrupter strikes, it’s common to search for reasons and formulas to obtain control of the uncontrollable. This book presents insights into becoming more aware of one's posture toward hardship and practical steps to overcome formidable obstacles. I offer an honest reflection on how to process loss within a framework of five discernible steps I call an Acceptance Scale. A secondary framework addresses various types of loss that keep people stuck. While presented in five steps, acceptance of what is lost is not a linear process with a beginning and an end, but a long-term engagement of the heart.