life rattle show no. 1272

Presented on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Hosted by virginia ashberry

featuring

"Chris or College"
by Elizabeth Clark

tonight's Show

Tonight's program, Life Rattle Number 1272, features a Life Rattle classic by Elzabeth Clark.

Elizabeth Clark, the second of six children, was born in 1961, in Campbellford, Ontario a small farming community two hours north east of Toronto. Clark left home in 1981 to attend Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough. She switched programs three times before graduating with diplomas in General Arts and Science and Correctional Work in 1985. While attending college she met and moved in with her partner Peter.

After graduation, Clark worked in group homes for a few years then returned to Fleming to study nursing. She graduated in 1991, then moved to Toronto where she worked as a nurse in hospitals and private health care until 2002 when she and Peter purchased her family home and returned to Campbellford.

Elizabeth Clark works as a full-time registered nurse at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. She spends her free time gardening, renovating her old family home, and studying alternative healing. She currently writes poetry and free verse at theredlilydiaries@blogspot.ca.

Elizabeth Clark writes about rural Ontario, ironic stories about a young woman who dekes her way around the traps of a dysfunctional family and oppressive small-town mores to ditch the cruel pettiness of that life. Clark writes with sparse clarity, in well-honed vignettes that tell the much larger story.

Tonight's story, "Chris or College," is her “middle story.” It represents the pivotal point where the young woman makes a choice that will direct the flow of the rest of her life. A very different “back to school” entry. You will hold your breath, chew your knuckles and cross your fingers in hope for a happy ending. But what is a happy ending?

"Chris or College," along with several other pieces written by Elizabeth Clark, comes from the recent Life Rattle publication, Rub Salt. This book combines breathtaking, gripping stories by four Life Rattle Classic Contributors: Hin The Chu, Peaches D. Ledwidge and Robert Charles Osborne. Our next few “Classic” Podcasts will feature writing from this excellent book. I can’t promise you happy, but, as always, you will be very satisfied.

Please note: tonight’s story includes language that some listeners may find offensive. Parental discretion is advised.