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Selling Vegetables to Drunks: Lessons I Learned as an Alcoholic's Daughter
Heralded as “a compelling story full of heart and humor,” Laurie L. Hellmann’s second memoir, Selling Vegetables to Drunks, is equal parts requiem for a dead father and a rededication of life for those he left behind.
Travel with mother, sales executive, autism advocate, podcaster, and acclaimed author Laurie L. Hellmann on an autumn road trip from Charlestown, Indiana, to Marshall, Michigan, to bury her alcoholic father — a man whose dreams were permanently deferred, whose secrets followed him to the grave, and whose addiction all but defined the way his children experienced the world. In this captivating true story, readers “ride shotgun” with Laurie, eavesdropping on her conversations with her teenage daughter, Kendall, about the secrets of her former life, the truth about her father, and the nostalgic “good times” she and her sister had while growing up “in the country” on the outskirts of a small Midwestern town.
For anyone who has ever coped with the complex emotions of losing someone who was deeply flawed — and even abusive — this book lays bare the kind of communication and introspection it takes to forgive and hold accountable those who wronged us while committing to ourselves (and our children, spouses, and others) that the cycles of violence, addiction, and/or dysfunction end with us.
From Pain to Purpose, From Helpless Child to Devoted Parent
The number of times that Laurie Hellmann was driven in a smoke-filled car by a drunk father defies logic. The number of times her father nearly died from the health consequences of his addiction is a medical mystery. The ways in which the daughters of Rocky Sullivan persevered, avoided becoming bitter or closed off, and ultimately became devoted mothers and patient, inspiring leaders in their communities is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience.
We are not our parents. We are more than our pasts. There is “life after death” and function after dysfunction.
Selling Vegetables to Drunks takes us into neighborhood bars and backyard gardens, childhood dance studios and 1980s living rooms, and leaves us with lessons about forgiveness and pain, affection and abandonment, marriage and parenthood, life and death … and the nearly impossible task of “moving on” after loss.
Tell your friends and colleagues “my father died” and they will often ask, “Were you close?” Laurie L. Hellmann’s raw and honest narrative takes us inside the complexities of that question for those of us whose parents could have done better — those of us who were left to navigate our own parenting journeys with a guidebook missing some essential chapters. Getting from where we’ve been to where we want to go is a complex journey, full of pitstops and breakdowns, and ultimately — healing and perspective. It is possible that what you have survived has perfectly prepared you for what life needs from you now.
Hellmann draws a direct connection between her dysfunctional childhood and her own beautiful family, saying “I would not be who I am today without the wounds of my past. The depths of my childhood suffering gave me the perspective to find my higher purpose in parenting my two amazing kids — my gregarious, hilarious, studious daughter, Kendall, and my sweet, funny, strong, resilient nonspeaking autistic son, Skyler. I was meant to be their mother. And perhaps, I was meant to be Rocky Sullivan’s daughter.”
Travel with mother, sales executive, autism advocate, podcaster, and acclaimed author Laurie L. Hellmann on an autumn road trip from Charlestown, Indiana, to Marshall, Michigan, to bury her alcoholic father — a man whose dreams were permanently deferred, whose secrets followed him to the grave, and whose addiction all but defined the way his children experienced the world. In this captivating true story, readers “ride shotgun” with Laurie, eavesdropping on her conversations with her teenage daughter, Kendall, about the secrets of her former life, the truth about her father, and the nostalgic “good times” she and her sister had while growing up “in the country” on the outskirts of a small Midwestern town.
For anyone who has ever coped with the complex emotions of losing someone who was deeply flawed — and even abusive — this book lays bare the kind of communication and introspection it takes to forgive and hold accountable those who wronged us while committing to ourselves (and our children, spouses, and others) that the cycles of violence, addiction, and/or dysfunction end with us.
From Pain to Purpose, From Helpless Child to Devoted Parent
The number of times that Laurie Hellmann was driven in a smoke-filled car by a drunk father defies logic. The number of times her father nearly died from the health consequences of his addiction is a medical mystery. The ways in which the daughters of Rocky Sullivan persevered, avoided becoming bitter or closed off, and ultimately became devoted mothers and patient, inspiring leaders in their communities is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience.
We are not our parents. We are more than our pasts. There is “life after death” and function after dysfunction.
Selling Vegetables to Drunks takes us into neighborhood bars and backyard gardens, childhood dance studios and 1980s living rooms, and leaves us with lessons about forgiveness and pain, affection and abandonment, marriage and parenthood, life and death … and the nearly impossible task of “moving on” after loss.
Tell your friends and colleagues “my father died” and they will often ask, “Were you close?” Laurie L. Hellmann’s raw and honest narrative takes us inside the complexities of that question for those of us whose parents could have done better — those of us who were left to navigate our own parenting journeys with a guidebook missing some essential chapters. Getting from where we’ve been to where we want to go is a complex journey, full of pitstops and breakdowns, and ultimately — healing and perspective. It is possible that what you have survived has perfectly prepared you for what life needs from you now.
Hellmann draws a direct connection between her dysfunctional childhood and her own beautiful family, saying “I would not be who I am today without the wounds of my past. The depths of my childhood suffering gave me the perspective to find my higher purpose in parenting my two amazing kids — my gregarious, hilarious, studious daughter, Kendall, and my sweet, funny, strong, resilient nonspeaking autistic son, Skyler. I was meant to be their mother. And perhaps, I was meant to be Rocky Sullivan’s daughter.”
- GenresBiography
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2024
29 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 1, 2024
I read this book because my siblings grew up with Laurie and her sister. I kept reading because Laurie has an amazing way of sharing her story and emotions. Growing up with heartbreak and trauma is never a pretty or easy journey, but Laurie seems almost grateful, instead of bitter, for the experiences she endured and the lessons she learned. This is a book that will stick with me for a long time. 10 stars
September 24, 2024
It's hard to come up with adequate words when a book leaves you speechless. Laurie L. Hellmann has done it again; in SELLING VEGETABLES TO DRUNKS, the second volume in her Purposeful Journey series, she tells her story with absolute honesty—the good and the bad—in a way that feels like sitting down and having a one-on-one conversation.
Set during a mother/daughter road trip and toggling between the present and the past, Laurie recounts her memories of growing up with an alcoholic father, and how it shaped the person she became. I can only imagine how deep Laurie (and her sister, Beth, who provides the intro) had to go to create a memoir so raw and hopeful about growing up in a house ruled by addiction and abuse.
As with her first memoir, WELCOME TO MY LIFE about life as a mother to an autistic son, SELLING VEGETABLES is told in Laurie’s candid (and often quite humorous) style. I highlighted many passages that took my breath away with their poignancy, particularly: "I get to repurpose my past and use it to redefine the role of parent."
Thank you Laurie and family for sharing your experiences and loving spirit with your readers.
Set during a mother/daughter road trip and toggling between the present and the past, Laurie recounts her memories of growing up with an alcoholic father, and how it shaped the person she became. I can only imagine how deep Laurie (and her sister, Beth, who provides the intro) had to go to create a memoir so raw and hopeful about growing up in a house ruled by addiction and abuse.
As with her first memoir, WELCOME TO MY LIFE about life as a mother to an autistic son, SELLING VEGETABLES is told in Laurie’s candid (and often quite humorous) style. I highlighted many passages that took my breath away with their poignancy, particularly: "I get to repurpose my past and use it to redefine the role of parent."
Thank you Laurie and family for sharing your experiences and loving spirit with your readers.
November 21, 2024
Wow Laurie. Your writing is incredible. Now I kind of did things backwards and read this book 1st even though it's probably not necessary which order to read in. However in following you on fb I did have some knowledge about your life with your amazing son.
I could not put this book down. Your relationship while different than the one I had with my father brought up so many of the same emotions and really made me think. I honestly can't stop thinking about it.
You are a amazing Mom and daughter. I am so glad to read your story.
Now I'm off to read the 1st one!!!
I could not put this book down. Your relationship while different than the one I had with my father brought up so many of the same emotions and really made me think. I honestly can't stop thinking about it.
You are a amazing Mom and daughter. I am so glad to read your story.
Now I'm off to read the 1st one!!!
November 12, 2024
Absolutely a wonderful read.
Loved everything about this book. I have had the opportunity to see Laurie speak and she is one incredible human, speaker and author. The book told from an honest and thoughtful perspective. Reading about not only her relationship with her parents but with her children was amazing.
Loved everything about this book. I have had the opportunity to see Laurie speak and she is one incredible human, speaker and author. The book told from an honest and thoughtful perspective. Reading about not only her relationship with her parents but with her children was amazing.
May 23, 2025
Just wanted that little bit deeper to illustrate that the shackles of poisonous families can be cut.
October 6, 2025
Great book. Heartfelt and vulnerable!
January 2, 2025
Great read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews