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Overview
Without Faith – A Motherless Child Redeemed by a Determined Spirit, is a bold, truthful, raw, humorous, yet innocent account through Reenie’s life beginning with her first memories at three years old.
The author, Doreen Birdsell was nicknamed Reenie. Doreen clung to her nickname like a badge of honor because her mother gave it to her and although her childhood was robbed no one could ever take away the name Reenie that would always be the remnant of her mother’s voice.
Her mother, Faith, died after suffering the complications of a still born birth on March 18th 1953. She left two daughters, Donna who was celebrating her fourth birthday and two-year-old Reenie.
Walter, Reenie and Donna’s father, wouldn’t raise the two girls without Faith.
On the night of Walter’s drunken insistence to give his little girls away to the Catholic Charities a battle ensued among his four older sisters and their husbands. Walter’s best friend and brother-in-law, Frank took Reenie from the chaotic scene in the crowded farm house kitchen. In the darkness of the quiet night on the edge of the woods he tells Reenie a lie that God wants her to touch him and betrays her innocence by using her for his sexual pleasure.
Aunt Hazel and Uncle Ted take Reenie and move to Ridegewood in Queens, NY. Donna is taken to be raised by their Uncle Frank and Aunt Violet who live in Greewich, CT.
Every weekend the two children are reunited for a visit with their father at their original family home in Port Chester.
Frank’s wife, Violet dies soon after they take Donna to live with them and now Frank becomes the weekend baby sitter for both girls.
While changing Reenie’s play clothes after a visit to Uncle Franks’s Aunt Hazel asks, “How did your underwear get on backwards?”
“Uncle Frank did it.”
“Why would he take off your underwear?”
“To stick his thing in there,” Reenie says pointing between her legs.
In horrified disbelief Aunt Hazel says, “How could you say such a thing? You shouldn’t ever talk like that! I don’t know how you could learn such a thing.”
When Donna overhears the conversation she runs to tell Uncle Frank the bad thing that Reenie has done in disobeying him to never ‘tell’.
From a dirt road in Port Chester, NY to the concrete streets of Ridgewood in Queens, NY with her Aunt Hazel and Uncle Ted Reenie protects herself from neighborhood bullies and perpetrators that continue to reappear.
As a child who had been sexuality violated at such a young age Reenie was often pinpointed by pedophiles who were keenly aware of her sexuality and vulnerability. She was often sexually approached by a neighbor, an adult cousin, camp counselor, strangers who seduced and abused her again and again.
The truth is finally discovered when at 7 years old Reenie carves a penis in the desk of her 2nd grade Catholic school classroom. Aghast her nun rips off Reenie’s school tie and under harsh questioning she tries to explain that the carving is really a lighthouse. The truth is finally revealed and an end is put to Uncle Frank further damaging the two girls.
We are taken on a ride through the rest of Reenie’s childhood, through her teenage years in the 60s. Puppy love came to her through her best friend Linda who asked her to teach her to kiss. Reenie falls in love and is more confused than ever.
Drugs were an easy way out to dull the pain. Through a therapeutic community for drug addiction, methadone, a sugar daddy that got Reenie who we now call Doreen her first apartment in Manhattan and out of her Aunt and Uncle’s apartment across the river in Queens.
Doreen thought she could be free to have a relationship with Furman, a handsome 20 year old African American she had met when they were both in Odyssey House recovering from drug addiction.
Little did she know that life in the big city was far more dangerous for a young attractive woman who was emotionally and spiritually adrift.
The details of near death experiences and drunken exploits are interwoven with an underlying, knowing of the ever presence of God.
The author, Doreen Birdsell was nicknamed Reenie. Doreen clung to her nickname like a badge of honor because her mother gave it to her and although her childhood was robbed no one could ever take away the name Reenie that would always be the remnant of her mother’s voice.
Her mother, Faith, died after suffering the complications of a still born birth on March 18th 1953. She left two daughters, Donna who was celebrating her fourth birthday and two-year-old Reenie.
Walter, Reenie and Donna’s father, wouldn’t raise the two girls without Faith.
On the night of Walter’s drunken insistence to give his little girls away to the Catholic Charities a battle ensued among his four older sisters and their husbands. Walter’s best friend and brother-in-law, Frank took Reenie from the chaotic scene in the crowded farm house kitchen. In the darkness of the quiet night on the edge of the woods he tells Reenie a lie that God wants her to touch him and betrays her innocence by using her for his sexual pleasure.
Aunt Hazel and Uncle Ted take Reenie and move to Ridegewood in Queens, NY. Donna is taken to be raised by their Uncle Frank and Aunt Violet who live in Greewich, CT.
Every weekend the two children are reunited for a visit with their father at their original family home in Port Chester.
Frank’s wife, Violet dies soon after they take Donna to live with them and now Frank becomes the weekend baby sitter for both girls.
While changing Reenie’s play clothes after a visit to Uncle Franks’s Aunt Hazel asks, “How did your underwear get on backwards?”
“Uncle Frank did it.”
“Why would he take off your underwear?”
“To stick his thing in there,” Reenie says pointing between her legs.
In horrified disbelief Aunt Hazel says, “How could you say such a thing? You shouldn’t ever talk like that! I don’t know how you could learn such a thing.”
When Donna overhears the conversation she runs to tell Uncle Frank the bad thing that Reenie has done in disobeying him to never ‘tell’.
From a dirt road in Port Chester, NY to the concrete streets of Ridgewood in Queens, NY with her Aunt Hazel and Uncle Ted Reenie protects herself from neighborhood bullies and perpetrators that continue to reappear.
As a child who had been sexuality violated at such a young age Reenie was often pinpointed by pedophiles who were keenly aware of her sexuality and vulnerability. She was often sexually approached by a neighbor, an adult cousin, camp counselor, strangers who seduced and abused her again and again.
The truth is finally discovered when at 7 years old Reenie carves a penis in the desk of her 2nd grade Catholic school classroom. Aghast her nun rips off Reenie’s school tie and under harsh questioning she tries to explain that the carving is really a lighthouse. The truth is finally revealed and an end is put to Uncle Frank further damaging the two girls.
We are taken on a ride through the rest of Reenie’s childhood, through her teenage years in the 60s. Puppy love came to her through her best friend Linda who asked her to teach her to kiss. Reenie falls in love and is more confused than ever.
Drugs were an easy way out to dull the pain. Through a therapeutic community for drug addiction, methadone, a sugar daddy that got Reenie who we now call Doreen her first apartment in Manhattan and out of her Aunt and Uncle’s apartment across the river in Queens.
Doreen thought she could be free to have a relationship with Furman, a handsome 20 year old African American she had met when they were both in Odyssey House recovering from drug addiction.
Little did she know that life in the big city was far more dangerous for a young attractive woman who was emotionally and spiritually adrift.
The details of near death experiences and drunken exploits are interwoven with an underlying, knowing of the ever presence of God.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940012843845 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Don't Push Press |
| Publication date: | 06/07/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 288 |
| File size: | 699 KB |
About the Author
Doreen Birdsell was born in Hollywood, Florida, and raised in Queens, New York. Since 1980, she has been an award-winning photographer and founder of Birdsell Photography & Video, of New York, New York; Westport, Connecticut; and Provincetown, Massachusetts. As Producer, Assistant Director, and Cinematographer, in 2010 she completed Longshore, the Documentary, a 27-minute film for the town of Westport, Connecticut. The film documents Westport’s rich history, the celebrity influence of Broadway stars and Hollywood film makers, and the town’s acquisition in 1960 of 169 prime acres on the Atlantic seaboard.
For ten years she had been a contributing photographer for the American Cancer Society and the official photographer for the annual NYC event, American Cancer Society Dogs Walk Against Cancer. Her color, black & white, and infrared images for events are captured in a documentary style. Doreen’s fashion background is evident in her work.
In 1984 she co-founded Spectrum Light Productions, Inc. in New York City and established a film-to-tape, video duplication, and production business until 1988 when she opened her first photography studio.
In 1995, Doreen was commissioned to travel to Italy and Greece by an archaeologist to photograph more than 25 archeological sites in a series titled "The Golden Age." Her results were featured in gallery exhibitions in both NYC and Greenwich, CT.
From 2002 – 2005, Doreen and her life-partner, Lisa chaperoned four Youth Mission Trips with the Saugatuck Congregational Church, Westport, CT, and produced a video for promotion of future mission trips to underserved areas in the U.S.
In addition, from 2005, Doreen has been the owner/partner of the Inn at Cook Street, Provincetown, MA, an award-winning bed and breakfast inn. Cape Cod.
Last but NOT least, Doreen is a survivor of sexual abuse suffered as a child, and of drug and alcohol abuse as a young adult. She credits her recovery and success to the grace of her Higher Power, the wisdom of 12-step programs, and individual therapy. A committed Christian and outspoken leader of personal development workshops, Doreen is a living testimony to persistence, hard work and faith. These characteristics helped bring her to the finish line in four New York City marathons.
Doreen is a passionate speaker and mentor, guiding others to healing and sobriety by her inspired example.
For ten years she had been a contributing photographer for the American Cancer Society and the official photographer for the annual NYC event, American Cancer Society Dogs Walk Against Cancer. Her color, black & white, and infrared images for events are captured in a documentary style. Doreen’s fashion background is evident in her work.
In 1984 she co-founded Spectrum Light Productions, Inc. in New York City and established a film-to-tape, video duplication, and production business until 1988 when she opened her first photography studio.
In 1995, Doreen was commissioned to travel to Italy and Greece by an archaeologist to photograph more than 25 archeological sites in a series titled "The Golden Age." Her results were featured in gallery exhibitions in both NYC and Greenwich, CT.
From 2002 – 2005, Doreen and her life-partner, Lisa chaperoned four Youth Mission Trips with the Saugatuck Congregational Church, Westport, CT, and produced a video for promotion of future mission trips to underserved areas in the U.S.
In addition, from 2005, Doreen has been the owner/partner of the Inn at Cook Street, Provincetown, MA, an award-winning bed and breakfast inn. Cape Cod.
Last but NOT least, Doreen is a survivor of sexual abuse suffered as a child, and of drug and alcohol abuse as a young adult. She credits her recovery and success to the grace of her Higher Power, the wisdom of 12-step programs, and individual therapy. A committed Christian and outspoken leader of personal development workshops, Doreen is a living testimony to persistence, hard work and faith. These characteristics helped bring her to the finish line in four New York City marathons.
Doreen is a passionate speaker and mentor, guiding others to healing and sobriety by her inspired example.
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