The Inconvenient Child

Book excerpt: “dee mcquesten brings to life the phrase ‘It takes a village…’ From dee’s early childhood on, the villagers in her life instilled in her the capacity for resilience. The concept of resiliency, attributed to early 20th Century thinker Walter Lippmann, is the capacity for personal growth, for recalibration, and for principled improvisation in the face of new circumstances. dee’s story is this definition expressed in her own life of obstacles overcome, and in a life dedicated to making our village a better place, from the Elwha River Dam Project, to our historic market; but most importantly for the children abused, traumatized and abandoned by the rest of our society.” ~ Christopher Staeheli, M.D., Child Psychiatrist “I’ve always known that dee was a tremendously strong person with unrelenting empathy for children enduring trauma and toxic stress. Now I understand where that came from. She is a model of how to turn childhood trauma into lasting resilience. dee’s experience will bring hope to others and inspire them to give back to their communities. Read this book to be inspired by an amazing woman.” ~ Kaaren Andrews: Washington Director, Center for High School Success; Principal for 9 years of the Academy for traumatized and marginalized teens in Seattle’s Columbia City. “dee’s life exemplifies the saying “ Do not hide one’s light under a bushel.” She was born with a light that years of abuse could not diminish. dee’s story, with her vivid memory of details, including her ‘Norman Rockwell style’ formative years, years of abuse mentally and physically and final happiness, gives us courage to use our talents and become the persons we were meant to be. Her intelligence and creativity, boosted by her sense of spiritual need, have helped her to find many ways to care for others. For the past 38 years, dee has worked and struggled to provide for her son and done so with humility and humor. The amount of personal and communal good work she has done at the same time is truly astounding. We cheer for her when she finds happiness with a man who is equally kind and generous. ~ Pam Schell, Co-founder of two successful theater companies, Seattle’s Intiman Theatre and Whidbey Island’s WICA (Whidbey Island Center for the Arts); formerly Seattle’s “First Lady”, as wife of Seattle Mayor Paul Schell)