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Walk This Way
Carl and Sheila were united in their belief that you can’t go back, you can only go forward. They had reassembled their faltering marriage and navigated health conditions hard to imagine unless you are the one living them. Gathering their belongings, their beloved cats and their courage, they stepped hopefully into the future.
It was just as well they could not look ahead to the losses they would soon face.
These are the years at the pond, their marriage rebuilt, but Carl’s health not so easy to reassemble. Sheila’s wise aunt once said “wherever I am is home,” and for Carl and Sheila, wherever home was, as long as they were together it was beautiful.
It was just as well they could not look ahead to the losses they would soon face.
These are the years at the pond, their marriage rebuilt, but Carl’s health not so easy to reassemble. Sheila’s wise aunt once said “wherever I am is home,” and for Carl and Sheila, wherever home was, as long as they were together it was beautiful.
468 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2024
2 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Balls
5 books29 followersSheila (Smith) spent her first twenty years in North Bay Ontario and went on to a teaching career which took her to the Sudbury area, Whitby, and finally Owen Sound. Here she met and married Carl Balls in 1971 and they raised two children, Michael born in 1974 and Catherine in 1976.
Sheila wrote through all those years but began publishing material only when she retired from teaching.
Her first book of personal essays, Somebody Move the Cat, was accepted by The Brucedale Press, the first publisher she sent it to, and came out in 2003. In 2005 she self-published Our Side of the Fence while living on beautiful Bass Lake south of Wiarton.
Carl and Sheila moved late in 2007 to Grey Highlands and then, with Carl needing care for his declining health, to Meaford.
Her third book, 'All Right So Far' is available now.
Sheila wrote through all those years but began publishing material only when she retired from teaching.
Her first book of personal essays, Somebody Move the Cat, was accepted by The Brucedale Press, the first publisher she sent it to, and came out in 2003. In 2005 she self-published Our Side of the Fence while living on beautiful Bass Lake south of Wiarton.
Carl and Sheila moved late in 2007 to Grey Highlands and then, with Carl needing care for his declining health, to Meaford.
Her third book, 'All Right So Far' is available now.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 30, 2025
Walk This Way is a very personal and intimate memoir by Sheila of her life with husband Carl. Some of it is run-of-the-mill everyday activities and visits with friends and family. However, there were significant challenges, including logistical/transport issues with Carl’s health condition. It’s a vivid and honest account of all that they went through together. An interesting and engaging read of their later in life years. There’s some lovely poems too by Sheila. And amusing cat tales. Recommend.
February 22, 2025
I highly recommend this memoir for anyone whole loves to be reminded of the beauty of community building through potlucks, book clubs, making a meal for friends when someone is sick, and showing up when it is most needed.
Laughs are woven throughout along with a few surprise twists in the adventures of the loveable family at the heart of this memoir. Along with the laughs came plenty of tears as the book shared the grief of losing a dearly loved human. I bought a copy for myself, my mom, and my sister and we all loved it to bits.
After reading Walk This Way, I was profoundly inspired by its stories to invest more deeply in my friendships and building community. And to not take my relationships with my parents for granted - a heart filled reminder that we don’t have forever together so it’s important to make the time we do have count.
Laughs are woven throughout along with a few surprise twists in the adventures of the loveable family at the heart of this memoir. Along with the laughs came plenty of tears as the book shared the grief of losing a dearly loved human. I bought a copy for myself, my mom, and my sister and we all loved it to bits.
After reading Walk This Way, I was profoundly inspired by its stories to invest more deeply in my friendships and building community. And to not take my relationships with my parents for granted - a heart filled reminder that we don’t have forever together so it’s important to make the time we do have count.
February 15, 2025
An honest insight into the authors life, supporting both her mother and (mainly) her husband through illness.
Some beautiful wording in this book and the addition of poetry is a nice bonus.
Shiela has some lovely memories written into this book and some very difficult ones.
Author clearly takes joy in her writing and puts 100% into her book.
Some beautiful wording in this book and the addition of poetry is a nice bonus.
Shiela has some lovely memories written into this book and some very difficult ones.
Author clearly takes joy in her writing and puts 100% into her book.
November 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Sheila and Carl were such a great couple and the joy they brought to students and people alike really made me happy. The stories about where they lived and the joy it brought them made me jealous. This memoir is not just about all things wonderful but what happens when life changes and how you get thru it. So many of us live far from family and children but they were lucky to live close enough to keep a tight bond and instill joy and forever memories in both their children and grandchildren. Young adults and old alike should read this book—the young to help them in how to be friends and love others and the old to realize that they are not alone in what they go thru.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews