My name is Patricia Wenskunas and this is my personal Blog . . . and this is my story. My story may not seem that different from that of other Americans, but when you scratch beneath the surface, it may be a lot different in the things I went through to get from there to here. In either case, I want to share my life experiences with you the reader, and if in the process I’m able to shed some new light on a problem or even instill hope where there is only despair and disillusionment, then I have accomplished my goal.
Growing up in a small Midwest town certainly has its advantages but it also has its disadvantages. Sure, everyone knows your name but everyone knows your business too. Word spreads fast. The other thing is this; your job and career choices are limited and those with big dreams usually head for the big cities and the brighter lights. On the other hand, I count as one of my blessings the core American values that are instilled in you from an early age – a strong sense of family, hard work, faith and determination. These values not only define who I am as a person, they’ve helped me endure personal degradations and hardships and still remain a positive, productive, loving and caring individual.
I truly believe, with faith there is hope.
So I was born and raised in small town USA; well, LaSalle-Peru, IL to be exact. Actually, they are two cities so close together they are usually hyphenated and are about 2 hours from Chicago. Baptized and brought up in a Catholic household, I attended St. Patrick’s Grade School. It was there that I met Sister Ignatia who would have a huge impact on my life. She taught me about forgiveness.
Kids like to make funny rhymes with your name – so back then if I wasn’t just plain Patty, I was called Chatty Patty or Skuner, and since I tended to be hefty; Fatty Patty. With time, the name game grew more intelligent: Pesty Patricia, Persistent Patricia or Pain in the Ass Patricia. Yes, I can be annoying at times.
My mother is Italian and Polish and my father is Lithuanian (hence, the name Wenskunas) and Italian. (Those Italians sure get around). My family seemed no different from any other family that I knew. Later I attended LaSalle-Peru Township High School. I’m not sure about the education I received, but I did graduate and became friends with many of the teachers and staff. I will be sharing much more about that in future.
In many ways my early life and the town itself seemed like Mayberry, USA – a snapshot of an idyllic place and childhood. It does not however tell the whole story. It’s like the beautiful framed photographs you always see on the mantle in people’s homes. It’s a portrait of a family and its members but in no way does it tell of the individual lives of those portrayed.
On the surface of my story you don’t see the cycles of victimization or the betrayal. You won’t see teenage boys acting in the most dishonorable and criminal ways, nor will you see a drunk driver, an Air Force recruiter, hit a mother and son, and then disappear. You don’t even see my mistakes or flaws.
The cycles of victimization I speak of would repeat themselves again into the future and rear their ugly heads. I came close to drawing my last breath, but I had to think of someone else whom I adore and love and is a huge inspiration in my life – my son. I may have been broken, but I survived. And with passion and purpose one can not only heal, they can break the cycles of victimization and thrive.
My life has had many ups and downs. While I can’t change the events of my past, I have certainly learned from my mistakes and misfortunes and can pass them along. I want to help others get through their difficult times and come out whole. I want you to know that just because you’ve had a horrible thing happen to you, it doesn’t mean you are damaged goods. You can heal, become whole and passionate again and lead a productive and purposeful life.
My gift to you the reader is to share the lessons learned in what seems like a long and tested journey. I am not perfect nor do I have all the answers. I’ve made many mistakes, have sinned, and live with some regrets. I am a work in progress; I work on my eating disorders and self image issues. I love chocolate, coffee, my family, friendships, and meaningful conversation. I love life for the moment, knowing that God loves, accepts, forgives and validates me. Knowing this, I have forgiven others and myself.
A dear friend of mine recently recited a Mark Twain quote that goes like this: “Go to Heaven for the climate; Hell for the company.” One of the reasons I moved to California was for the weather so I’ll go for the climate, thank you very much.
Passion for Hope…. PW