Holy Water in My Scotch: From Despair to Hope

By Suzanne Boylston Cusack

If you are looking for hope in the midst of life on life's terms today, this is the book for you.

You will identify…no matter your gender, age, culture or stage of life, as Suzanne deals with her life with grace and gratitude. You will enjoy her treasured love story…
Sue and Jim, and their mission together. You will be inspired by the hardships she describes overcoming and the faith that led her through these ordeals. You will laugh and cry as she faces every crisis armed with her mother's magical gift--her faith in the power of blessed holy water--does it work???

Please read and decide for yourself.

Either way, be prepared to find HOPE!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: May 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647500986

Suzanne Boylston Cusack

This is the true story of Suzanne Boylston Cusack growing up in a middle-class family in Far Rockaway, Long Island, NY, in the 1950s. She was brought up with a strong faith and the discipline of Catholic high school. In her family life, she grew up surrounded by the hurts, fears, and disillusionments of living with her dad's weekend alcoholism. She vowed never to drink, but at age 18, she found her way to the glamor of working for a prominent firm in Rockefeller Center, and the advertising world, long drinking lunches, and after-hour working parties. She became very successful materially, but at the age of 28, lost herself. Her mom, quietly seeing her daughter follow in Dad's footsteps, prayed very hard. Since her mom is Catholic and believes in the magical powers of blessed holy water, she began pouring some in Sue's drinks whenever she could. Suddenly, the miracle occurred and Sue called the Alcoholics Anonymous, 24-hour helpline on June 3, 1969. And so, from that Holy Water in My Scotch carries us through to the present as she deals with widowhood and carrying on her soul mate's mission…solely responsible for maintaining the 100 acres, 85-bed treatment center they began together with the treasured staff of 50, who are still family to her. Her faith and determination will inspire all ages for all times. She considers herself blessed to be able to do what she loves with the ones she loves and works hands-on helping the addicted, and their families find help and hope daily. She just celebrated 50 years sober on June 4, 2019.

Book preview

Cusack

About The Author

This is the true story of Suzanne Boylston Cusack growing up in a middle-class family in Far Rockaway, Long Island, NY, in the 1950s. She was brought up with a strong faith and the discipline of Catholic high school. In her family life, she grew up surrounded by the hurts, fears, and disillusionments of living with her dad’s weekend alcoholism. She vowed never to drink, but at age 18, she found her way to the glamor of working for a prominent firm in Rockefeller Center, and the advertising world, long drinking lunches, and after-hour working parties. She became very successful materially, but at the age of 28, lost herself. Her mom, quietly seeing her daughter follow in Dad’s footsteps, prayed very hard. Since her mom is Catholic and believes in the magical powers of blessed holy water, she began pouring some in Sue’s drinks whenever she could. Suddenly, the miracle occurred and Sue called the Alcoholics Anonymous, 24-hour helpline on June 3, 1969.

And so, from that Holy Water in My Scotch carries us through to the present as she deals with widowhood and carrying on her soul mate’s mission…solely responsible for maintaining the 100 acres, 85-bed treatment center they began together with the treasured staff of 50, who are still family to her. Her faith and determination will inspire all ages for all times. She considers herself blessed to be able to do what she loves with the ones she loves and works hands-on helping the addicted, and their families find help and hope daily.

She just celebrated 50 years sober on June 4, 2019.

Dedication

Dedicated to:

Mom, who never gave up on me, whose intense faith in the power of prayer and holy water led me to hope and help.

My little brother, Jimmy, who, along with his wife, Maureen, helped me through that first tough year of sobriety.

My best friend, soul mate, husband…my everything, Jim, the inspiration behind this book.

My sister, Joan, my forever friend.

My traveling team, my flexible flier siblings and in-laws: Joan, Steve, Jack, Elaine, Tom, and Ann—family who were dear friends as well as family.

All my treasured nieces and nephews, part of our sweetest memories.

My Villa family, present and past, many who have passed on but each one leaving their mark on my heart and being part of who I am today.

My first AA sponsor, Margaret G. drove me to detox. in 1969 and just presented me with my 50 year sober coin last year!. She is 95 years young and still goes to meetings!

My years of 12-step families from Long Island to Kerhonkson, who have been, and still are, my strength and support.

My step-children, who treasure and love our Jim with me and have truly become my family.

Our prayer group of friends who met faithfully every week as we supported each other through life’s crises. Thank you, Carmen, Casey, Cathy, and Dick.

My cousins from California, Texas, Virginia, and Long Island, who show me how to age gracefully…and share ancient family memories and secrets that no one else knows.

Copyright Information ©

Suzanne Boylston Cusack (2020)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Austin Macauley is committed to publishing works of quality and integrity. In that spirit, we are proud to offer this book to our readers; however, the story, the experiences, and the words are the author’s alone and portrayed to the best of their recollection. In some cases, names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales: special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloguing-in-Publication data

Cusack, Suzanne Boylston

Holy Water in My Scotch

ISBN 9781647500979 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781647500962 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781647500986 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020904921

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2020)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Acknowledgement

To the Dominican sisters of Amityville, who hired Jim and gave him a chance to restart his dream of a haven for alcoholics and open a new chapter of my life.

The Murray family, especially Barbara, who helped Jim edit his book and kept urging me to write my story…thank you, Barbara, for being my best fan and cheerleader.

John Murray, who kept encouraging me to write and whose friendship with Mary Higgins Clark led me to Austin Macauley.

The Peters family: first Ken, who helped Jim with his eyesight, and recently, Claudia Ragni, for opening doors for the Villa mission to move forward.

Sister Peggy and Sister Mary-Ann, for giving me a Christmas gift of a New Beginning’s retreat I didn’t know I needed.

Thank you to my new friends at New Beginnings, who have grieved with me and shown me truly new beginnings…thank you for pushing me to write again, find what was buried, and turn it into this book, which we hope will help many.

Thank you to all my Union brothers and sisters, who loved Jim over the years and have helped me keep the Villa going after he passed away. You visited us, kept us involved and encouraged me to make the trip to your huge Vegas conference. You honored Jim and the Villa there and our history with you with so much love and accolades and made me feel so supported and welcomed. You too are a big part of this book, encouraging me to keep going. Thank you.

Also, to Diana and team at The Cottage in Ellenville, NY, for performing their magic on hairstyle and nails to keep me going.

To photographer Michael Gold, for patience and expertise in making one look good but real.

To our loyal and supportive accounting firm/family, from Vincent Panettieri Sr. who donated their services when we began 47 years ago and on now to Vincent Jr. who continues their love and care, thank you team SCHULTHEIS and PANETTIERI

I was a surprise package to my parents, as my folks tell me. They were third cousins who met at a social event, continued to party together, and finally married.

To narrate my life story, I must give you a background on the family in which I was born. Not a normal family (if there is such a thing), this family was a big part of who I am today.

Mom was married to a prominent attorney. She had a fairytale book wedding with the love of her life. Shortly after they were married, the Almighty blessed them with a beautiful little girl who later won a contest for looking like Shirley Temple. Three years later, Mom’s beloved husband died suddenly, and the incident shattered her life. There was a big mystery about his death as it occurred on the Labor Day weekend. He was away, supposedly on business, had a sudden stroke or embolism, and died instantly. To this day, neither Mom, nor my sister, nor anyone ever found out, nor did anyone question. Mom went into shock, and her sister, our aunt, helped a lot. It shattered my sister’s perfect life as well, and she learned to cope as best she could. Mom was there in body, but it was a terrible time for them all. Drinking was always a coping mechanism in all the family histories involved, so we know it was to play a part in the decision-making and fate of all concerned.

Here’s where I prepared to enter the picture…

Mom met my dad at one of the many beach parties in the Rockaways; they enjoyed drinking and partying and brought Mom’s daughter along most of the time. Joanne was about five when Mom and my dad married. My dad was forty-two at the time, in the Navy, a drinker, and never held