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PORTLAND WEATHER

Portland woman pens book




Theresa Levatino (right) with her new book – My Story Begins on Briley Lane. Also pictured is Paula Shannon. BONNIE FUSSELL

Theresa Levatino (right) with her new book – My Story Begins on Briley Lane. Also pictured is Paula Shannon. BONNIE FUSSELL

Theresa Marie Levatino has published a book titled My Story Begins on Briley Lane. It is a memoir of her mother, Donnie Marie Briley Levatino, as told to her. The book is written in Donnie’s perspective.

According to Theresa, her mother would often tell her stories of her life. She decided one evening that they should be collected and she started saving the stories. They were gathered over a long period of time, and it was not until Donnie passed away that Theresa added two final chapters and finished the book.

At first, she had a few copies printed and bound in a spiral binding at a local printing shop. Several years later, friends encouraged her to self-publish the stories. She was directed to Mike and Kim Dosier who guided her in the publication of the book.

According to Theresa, she wanted people to know the stories of the generation that lived simple lives but made a monumental impact upon the country. Her mother was of the generation that lived through the Great Depression and WW II. She did not want this history to be lost.

 

 

While the story centers around Donnie growing up on a farm, it includes major life changes for her including when she met a young WW II soldier who was stationed at an air base in the area. She was living and working in Nashville, when a friend set up a blind date for her with the man she would marry – Joe Levatino.

Many young girls in the area became “war brides” when they met soldiers stationed in the area or who were in the area on maneuvers. The story tells of her falling in love with him and becoming a “war bride.”  When the war was over many of the “war brides” left their families to go with their husbands to distant places.

Joe and Donnie remained in Tennessee, but visited his family in Connecticut often. On one visit, he was offered a job and they stayed for several years. It was a difficult time for her as she really missed being away from her family. After four years, they moved back to the farm in Tennessee where he farmed for a while and then took a job in Gallatin. Several years after their return, they were blessed when Theresa came to be their daughter after Donnie’s sister, Alma, died.

While she regretted the loss of her sister, she and Joe welcomed Theresa into their home.

Theresa said in the Dedication of the book, “While I loved my mama with all my heart and soul, her story is no better than anyone else of her generation that was raised on a farm. It is her story. It is my story, and I hope in some small way, it will be a part of your story.”

Theresa is making the book available free of charge to those who would like to have a copy until she has given them all away. She has autographed copies at the Portland Public Library of Sumner County on two occasions.

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