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Bedtime Stories for the Living: A Father's Memoir About The Power of Love
A regular dad. A rare brain disease. A chance to live forever.
A cell phone’s ring interrupts the silence as Jay Armstrong sits in his high school classroom preparing for the year ahead. Something about the ring makes his stomach drop. It’s his doctor.
The words, “diffuse cerebellar atrophy, a rare, degenerative brain disease” float through the speaker. All of Jay’s youthful dreams of being a writer rush back, flooding the twenty years he has spent teaching students how to appreciate novels, memoirs, and poetry. The care he put into teaching them how to write with clarity, insight, and humor, and how to dance at the prom. The bedtime stories he never told his children spin in his imagination. It will all die when he dies.
Bedtime Stories for the Living is an episodic memoir in which Jay shows his children how to accept their limitations and find joy. The collection of tender, witty stories about fatherhood, persevering despite illness, and pursuing your dreams, demonstrates how love gives us the strength to face heartache with bravery, humor, and grace.
A cell phone’s ring interrupts the silence as Jay Armstrong sits in his high school classroom preparing for the year ahead. Something about the ring makes his stomach drop. It’s his doctor.
The words, “diffuse cerebellar atrophy, a rare, degenerative brain disease” float through the speaker. All of Jay’s youthful dreams of being a writer rush back, flooding the twenty years he has spent teaching students how to appreciate novels, memoirs, and poetry. The care he put into teaching them how to write with clarity, insight, and humor, and how to dance at the prom. The bedtime stories he never told his children spin in his imagination. It will all die when he dies.
Bedtime Stories for the Living is an episodic memoir in which Jay shows his children how to accept their limitations and find joy. The collection of tender, witty stories about fatherhood, persevering despite illness, and pursuing your dreams, demonstrates how love gives us the strength to face heartache with bravery, humor, and grace.
290 pages, ebook
Published December 3, 2021
About the author
Jay Armstrong
2 books56 followersDespite being diagnosed with a rare neurological disease, Jay Armstrong presses on. He lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his wife, their three kids, and their dog Maggie May. He makes dad jokes, frequents Target, and will only accept a cordial invitation from Oprah to join her book club. You can visit him at:
https://www.writeonfighton.org
https://www.jayarmstrongwrites.com
https://www.writeonfighton.org
https://www.jayarmstrongwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 8, 2022
every fool has a reason to feel sorry for himself
Disclaimer, though I've never met Jay in person, I consider him a friend. He has been on my Springsteen fan podcast multiple times and I mention his name at the end of every episode, when I ask my guest "the Mary Question" originated by Jay Armstrong. I follow Jay's blog so some of these stories I had read in advance.
Jay has not one but two rare diseases. It would be easy for Jay to feel sorry for himself and get angry at the world. These diseases have taken away his career as a teacher (a calling that he loved) and has hurt him physically, denying him the chance to do many of the things he loves to do as a father and a husband. What they haven't done is taken away his voice. Through the power of Jay's writing he is telling his story, his family's story and in many ways our story. As I read this book from my friend Jay, I am touched by his talent, his courage and his passion for living. Please read the book and then check out his visits on my podcast, you will enjoy hearing him tell his stories. Reader, climb in, we are pulling out of here to win.
Disclaimer, though I've never met Jay in person, I consider him a friend. He has been on my Springsteen fan podcast multiple times and I mention his name at the end of every episode, when I ask my guest "the Mary Question" originated by Jay Armstrong. I follow Jay's blog so some of these stories I had read in advance.
Jay has not one but two rare diseases. It would be easy for Jay to feel sorry for himself and get angry at the world. These diseases have taken away his career as a teacher (a calling that he loved) and has hurt him physically, denying him the chance to do many of the things he loves to do as a father and a husband. What they haven't done is taken away his voice. Through the power of Jay's writing he is telling his story, his family's story and in many ways our story. As I read this book from my friend Jay, I am touched by his talent, his courage and his passion for living. Please read the book and then check out his visits on my podcast, you will enjoy hearing him tell his stories. Reader, climb in, we are pulling out of here to win.
December 18, 2021
Knowing Jay, Cindy & the kids for more than 15 years, makes this book even more poignant. Dealing with my own rare disease make it even more relatable and helped me put my own struggles into perspective. Write on fight on Jay!!
January 23, 2022
It's amazing how quickly a story can encapsulate you and pull you in. Sometimes books and stories captivate us to a degree that all else in the outer world can seem null and void until we finish reading. These books often allow us to escape into a familiar, yet distant world, while allowing us to recognize similar strains of morality, compassion, family, and love throughout.
Bedtime Stories for the Living is one of these books.
Lest we forget Jay Armstrong's fanatical desire to keep pushing forward and persevering through his illness, Bedtime Stories for the Living provides a meditated, tactful, and often humorous outlook on the world when everything is going to hell around you. The way Jay is able to blissfully weave a story of tragedy into one of hope and overcoming adversity for the love of family, friends, and life is a testament to his own lived experience.
Having come from a family where my own father had experienced a myriad of detrimental health conditions in his life, namely juvenile diabetes, heart attacks, quadruple bypasses, amputated legs, ruptured corneas, among countless others, Bedtime Stories for the Living acted as a substitution for the life lessons and morals that I know he would be able to provide me now, even 7 years after his death when I was only 18.
Jay's heartfelt letters to his children show the true love and compassion that can be planted inside of a person when faced with disaster and distress. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who feels static in life, waiting and yearning to find their destined Personal Legend.
Bedtime Stories for the Living is one of these books.
Lest we forget Jay Armstrong's fanatical desire to keep pushing forward and persevering through his illness, Bedtime Stories for the Living provides a meditated, tactful, and often humorous outlook on the world when everything is going to hell around you. The way Jay is able to blissfully weave a story of tragedy into one of hope and overcoming adversity for the love of family, friends, and life is a testament to his own lived experience.
Having come from a family where my own father had experienced a myriad of detrimental health conditions in his life, namely juvenile diabetes, heart attacks, quadruple bypasses, amputated legs, ruptured corneas, among countless others, Bedtime Stories for the Living acted as a substitution for the life lessons and morals that I know he would be able to provide me now, even 7 years after his death when I was only 18.
Jay's heartfelt letters to his children show the true love and compassion that can be planted inside of a person when faced with disaster and distress. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who feels static in life, waiting and yearning to find their destined Personal Legend.
September 25, 2022
review originally published at https://amanjareads.com/2022/10/06/be...
Thank you so much to author Jay Armstrong for providing me with a copy of Bedtime Stories for the Living in exchange for this honest review.
Reviews on memoirs are a bit strange to write. It kinda feels like you're reviewing someone's life. I try to make it clear that I'm reviewing a memoir based on its merit as a book and not a reflection of the individual who lived the story. Sometimes it's hard to actually make that separation. Luckily, this memoir is about a likable fella who anyone would want to spend an afternoon with.
Jay Armstrong is essentially an every man. He was an English teacher who brought a sense of humor and innovation to the classroom in a perpetual mission to engage teenagers in lessons. He is a father and husband. The factor that sets him apart is that he has a rare degenerative brain disorder called cerebellar atrophy in which he basically has a hole in his brain that could keep getting bigger as he ages.
This condition causes physical problems such as loss of motor control. For a former athlete and anyone who wants to play catch with their kids, this is heartbreaking. But Armstrong tries to keep things on the high road and decided to not be buried under the bad news in his life.
He started a blog called Write on Fight on in which he catalogues his stories living with cerebellar atrophy for anyone to read. This site serves as a place for anyone with a similar to condition to see that they're not alone as well as for any loved ones and caretakers to glean some insight that could help keep their relationships strong with these individuals.
Bedtime Stories for the Living is a memoir but it is also written as love letters to the author's children. He acknowledges that he could have been a more attentive father when the kids were younger and yearns to make up for it now. The stories in this book are the ones he should have told them at their bedsides far earlier in life.
When reading this nonfiction book it's important to understand that this book is not for us. It is, above all else, for Armstrong's children. The way that the book is written is with them in mind and he also makes it clear that should this book make a profit that will go to them as well. We're along for the ride but not active participants.
But it is heartfelt and honest. It's a memoir from someone we could know. Down to earth and completely in touch with how an internal struggle shapes the world around an individual and vice versa. We may know people who have physical ailments that haven't fully presented yet, kept a secret so that people don't treat them differently. The lesson to take away from Bedtime Stories for the Living is not to treat anyone differently and not to judge a person based on a diagnosis.
Buy this memoir so Armstrong can pay his medical bills and send his kids to college, read it because it's tender and great example of a great father.
4/5 story books 📖📖📖📖
Thank you so much to author Jay Armstrong for providing me with a copy of Bedtime Stories for the Living in exchange for this honest review.
Reviews on memoirs are a bit strange to write. It kinda feels like you're reviewing someone's life. I try to make it clear that I'm reviewing a memoir based on its merit as a book and not a reflection of the individual who lived the story. Sometimes it's hard to actually make that separation. Luckily, this memoir is about a likable fella who anyone would want to spend an afternoon with.
Jay Armstrong is essentially an every man. He was an English teacher who brought a sense of humor and innovation to the classroom in a perpetual mission to engage teenagers in lessons. He is a father and husband. The factor that sets him apart is that he has a rare degenerative brain disorder called cerebellar atrophy in which he basically has a hole in his brain that could keep getting bigger as he ages.
This condition causes physical problems such as loss of motor control. For a former athlete and anyone who wants to play catch with their kids, this is heartbreaking. But Armstrong tries to keep things on the high road and decided to not be buried under the bad news in his life.
He started a blog called Write on Fight on in which he catalogues his stories living with cerebellar atrophy for anyone to read. This site serves as a place for anyone with a similar to condition to see that they're not alone as well as for any loved ones and caretakers to glean some insight that could help keep their relationships strong with these individuals.
Bedtime Stories for the Living is a memoir but it is also written as love letters to the author's children. He acknowledges that he could have been a more attentive father when the kids were younger and yearns to make up for it now. The stories in this book are the ones he should have told them at their bedsides far earlier in life.
When reading this nonfiction book it's important to understand that this book is not for us. It is, above all else, for Armstrong's children. The way that the book is written is with them in mind and he also makes it clear that should this book make a profit that will go to them as well. We're along for the ride but not active participants.
But it is heartfelt and honest. It's a memoir from someone we could know. Down to earth and completely in touch with how an internal struggle shapes the world around an individual and vice versa. We may know people who have physical ailments that haven't fully presented yet, kept a secret so that people don't treat them differently. The lesson to take away from Bedtime Stories for the Living is not to treat anyone differently and not to judge a person based on a diagnosis.
Buy this memoir so Armstrong can pay his medical bills and send his kids to college, read it because it's tender and great example of a great father.
4/5 story books 📖📖📖📖
October 3, 2022
The author is a former teacher who was diagnosed ten years ago with ataxia, a rare progressive brain disease that affects his balance, sight and speech. He has written this book almost as bedtime stories for his children, outlining his views on life and subtly guiding and preparing their future selves for life in the future. It's a heartfelt, wonderful book with a sense of humor about life. A must-read. 10/10.
September 19, 2023
A story told from a dads view
I always enjoyed hearing stories of my dads childhood, right up until the day before he passef.this is a different kind of story , of a dads incurable disease. A disease which I was diagnosed with long after my kids are grown. An accurate and authentic telling of what it is o live with ataxia.
I always enjoyed hearing stories of my dads childhood, right up until the day before he passef.this is a different kind of story , of a dads incurable disease. A disease which I was diagnosed with long after my kids are grown. An accurate and authentic telling of what it is o live with ataxia.
February 8, 2023
Loved it! A very personal story of a man's wanting to leave his children his thoughts and dreams as he is dealing with a life-ending illness. Very moving and very relatable. Not depressing but uplifting.
December 31, 2021
I loved this book! It made me laugh and cry and really think about my own story. Thank you, Jay!
January 9, 2022
This book is filled with heart and a great reminder to all of us that we should prioritize relationships and legacy over all else. Loved it!
April 13, 2022
What a great legacy Jay has left for his children and their possible children. It’s a great reminder for us to share our stories and listen to our parents and grandparents stories.
August 25, 2022
This book is so well written. The stories and advice made me laugh, cry and deeply contemplate my life and values. I would recommend this book.
May 24, 2023
lovely story
This was an easy book to read. It wasn’t a real tear jerker. It was just a book of memories.
This was an easy book to read. It wasn’t a real tear jerker. It was just a book of memories.
October 5, 2023
An Inspirational MUST READ!!
Jay Armstrong peels back the layers of his life and with refreshing honesty takes us inside what it’s like to live with a rare, incurable medical condition. He bravely shares his life with us, including how he first heard the news and how he continues to adapt his life to be the best father and husband he can be. The stories Jay shares will make you smile, laugh, cheer and reflect on life. In Bedtime Stories For The Living, Jay shows us how to stare down the hurdles we face and live our best life in spite of them. These stories are insightful and entertaining and will resonate with readers of all ages.
Jay Armstrong peels back the layers of his life and with refreshing honesty takes us inside what it’s like to live with a rare, incurable medical condition. He bravely shares his life with us, including how he first heard the news and how he continues to adapt his life to be the best father and husband he can be. The stories Jay shares will make you smile, laugh, cheer and reflect on life. In Bedtime Stories For The Living, Jay shows us how to stare down the hurdles we face and live our best life in spite of them. These stories are insightful and entertaining and will resonate with readers of all ages.
December 11, 2021
“Chase the dream that brings you joy!”J Armstrong chased the dream of being a writer…and that dream has come true!!!This book is for all who need to be inspired.I cried,I laughed and cried some more but I was truly inspired!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews