In Joseph's own words:"I grew up in a large Catholic Family in the 60s and 70s.  My family has a long history of depression, suicide and addiction and I not only navigated my parent’s battles, but as an adult lived with my own.  I started singing as a child and at the age of 13 sang with the MN Orchestra in the nationally known Metropolitan Boy’s Choir.  I met my husband during my 40th birthday weekend and married him on my 43rd Birthday.  He told me the first night we met that he had a mental illness, but he was managing it successfully.  I was profoundly and deeply in love with him throughout our marriage and I think he felt the same about me.  Two weeks after we took our 16th  Anniversary roadtrip vacation, he was murdered by our mentally ill neighbor.  My life exploded and I almost killed myself with alcohol.  Luckily, with mass amounts of support I sobered up and dealt with my grief by helping to pass historic mental health legislation in the state of MN.  I formed a foundation in my husband’s name (ThePaulJamesPfeiferFoundation.org) to advocate for those suffering with a mental illness and use my lifelong passion for singing and story telling to raise $ for that foundation.  I continue to live in MN, but also own a home in Palm Springs (paradise) California".More info:  http://www.thepauljamespfeiferfoundation.orgPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2024Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com