John Ellis

I am a retired senior who has always had a desire to write. I worked 35 years in the union building trades and ultimately became a union contractor. I am the oldest of six children raised by a singe mother. As far back as I can remember, it was my job to shovel coal into our coal cellar and start the fire in our potbelly stove to warm up the house for my mother and five siblings every winter morning. Living on very few resources while watching my mother raise us on a low paying salary has instilled a work ethic that has enabled me to survive quite a few painful episodes in my life. Most of my family has died before retirement age and I have survived many hours of surgery. I have many stories in my head that might help other survive difficult times