Pray and Work Like Hell

By Larry Howald

Pray and Work Like Hell is an inspirational book that offers readers a captivating and heartwarming account of author Larry Howald's remarkable life journey. This is a story of resilience, unwaver

• Language: English
• Publisher: Larry Howald
• Release date: Oct 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798989124800

Book preview

PREFACE

The Coin Flip

In 1971 when I was 15 years old, my dad exceeded his sales quota working for Lennox Home Heating and Air Conditioning, winning him a trip to Malaga, Spain. He had three tickets for the trip—two for him and my mom, and the remaining ticket for either my older sister Linda or me. Linda got first dibs, but she wasn’t interested. When I was offered the chance to go, I jumped at it. A week off from school! How could I say no?

One night while in Malaga, we attended a banquet dinner overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. I glanced at the table next to us and saw the prettiest girl I had ever seen. Her name was Gina, and she was the daughter of Mr. Angelicchio, also on the trip courtesy of Lennox. I asked my dad if I could go over and ask her to join me for a walk on the beach. He advised me to take Gina and her sister but first ask her father.

Mr. Angelicchio was an intimidating man who was often referred to as the ‘Italian Stallion.’ Cautiously I approached him and politely asked if I could take his daughters for a walk along the beach. He stared down at me and said, Be careful and take care of them. Both girls agreed to head down to the beach, but first, they wanted to change out of their party dresses. While I waited, another boy came up to me and said, I get Gina.

No, I get Gina, I replied. But the kid looked determined, so thinking fast, I added, Let’s flip a coin to see who gets Gina.

As the coin did somersaults in the air, I called heads. The coin landed, and the visible head said I had won.

Soon the girls returned, and all four of us walked along the beach for what seemed like miles. I was not wearing a watch, but when I realized how far we had gone, I got the strong feeling it was time to head back. As we got closer to where our parents were, we saw bright lights shining across the water. Police officers scoured the beach as if looking for something. When my dad spotted me, he motioned me to join him. That’s when I found out that the search party was for us. My dad ordered me back to our hotel room, advising me that we would discuss it in the morning. Even the scolding we got the next day from our parents could not keep Gina and me away from each other.

Seven years later, Gina and I were married at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. My groomsmen, Butch and Tom, took me out to celebrate the night before our wedding, leaving me feeling the worse for wear. The day's heat pressed down on me as I stood at the altar, waiting for my bride to join me. All I could see were hundreds of faces pointing in my direction, which only added to my growing nausea. When Gina and I were finally kneeling side by side with the priest speaking above us, I leaned over to her and whispered, I think I’m gonna throw up.

She whispered, If you do, your life will never be the same again.

Luckily, I managed to hold it together. But during the car ride to the reception, my friend and groomsman Tom was at the wheel, and he kindly pulled the car over two or three times so I could lose my breakfast.

***

Those many decades ago, when I was a boy in Spain and had just met the love of my life, I had the foresight to grab a memento that I still have with me today. The hotel staff left a fruit basket and a bottle of Malaga wine in our hotel room. Somehow, I smuggled the bottle of wine back to Indiana by stuffing it inside my suitcase. When my friend Butch got married, I gave him the bottle of wine as a gift. Ten years later, when Gina and I were celebrating an anniversary, Butch returned the bottle of wine to me. But as the years passed and my sentiment for the bottle of wine grew stronger, I worried I might lose or break it. I asked my daughter Mary to keep it safe, and she assured me the bottle was well hidden in one of her closets.

Now that Gina has passed, the bottle of wine represents those precious decades of life that she and I spent together. In September of 2027, what would have been Gina’s and my 50th wedding anniversary, I plan to invite my daughters, to open the wine bottle, fill our glasses, and toast to Gina, the prettiest girl I have ever seen.

1. COMING OF AGE SOONER THAN MOST

In 1955, the city of Indianapolis had a population of almost half a million. My parents added one more to the census when I was born on July 28th of that year. The land where I grew up is known for its low hills, small lakes, and patches of forest. Although I’ve remained in the heart of Indiana, marrying my childhood sweetheart, raising our four daughters, and operating a successful business, it was in the massive mountain ranges out West that I came to grips with who I am as a husband, father, and leader.

Both my parents, Anita and Wayne Howald, were Indiana natives, growing up poor on family farms in the towns of Greenfield and Brazil. My sister Linda was born three years ahead of me, and she and I have remained close throughout our lives. My mother was always by my side, supporting me even when I brought home a mediocre report card. As for my dad, he was my best friend. I loved watching him head off to work each day at Broad Ripple Heating, the air conditioning and heating business he owned. When I was 15 years old, my dad brought me to work with him, and on that