as published in the Southington Citizen, Friday, October 28, 2016
Fifty Years – Untold Fears
Today’s story
is about someone I virtually bumped into as my wife and I were weaving our way between the crowds of the Apple Harvest Festival two years ago. Even in the confusion
of the mass of people, I saw that the lady whose path we crossed was at a table
displaying books and literature outside the N. Main St. entrance to Branford Hall.
Clearly, an
articulate and engaging person, discernible even in the thick of the crowd, we
entered an abbreviated conversation as she introduced herself as Casey Morley,
the owner and operator of Casey’s Image Consultants, a warm and comfy salon, as we
later learned, now celebrating its 25th anniversary.
I will
preface the strikingly astonishing story in today’s column with a note to
readers that Casey Morley will tell her story as part of an admission-free
presentation of the St. Dominic Parish of the Future Educational committee, entitled:
“Fifty Years – Untold Fears”, at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at the
St. Dominic Learning Center located behind the church at Flanders Road and
Laning Street.
When I met
Casey in October 2014, she had recently published an autobiographical book of a
most daunting journey of a half century of her life, entitled: ‘Crawling Out:
One woman’s journey to an empowered life after breaking the cycle of abuse no
one should have to endure.”
 |
| Cssey Morley, Author |
I decided I
wanted to know more about her story. It took many months of interviews with the
author, time to read the book, research the issue, continued conversations with
Morley, and finally writing a review of the author’s book in January 2016. Morley’s
book recounts in starkly burning detail, her childhood years of unending emotional
and physical domestic abuse living as “my mother’s slave” in a hopelessly dysfunctional
family setting.
Casey simply knew no other way of life. The disease of victim hood
sustained itself as a paralysis through her teen years and even more painful
relationships as an adult.
What did
somehow sustain Morley herself was a spare few friends she could talk to, keeping
journals on ruled yellow writing pads for years, and a powerful faith. Morley
ultimately began the arduous process of many years before a breakthrough from an
ever downward spiraling cycle of domestic violence.
With the publication of her
book and a new sense of self-worth and empowerment, Morley discovered her voice
in a new career as writer and speaker dedicated to inspiring others that there
is a way out for victims of abuse and their families.
 |
| Casey Morley at a book signing |
She started her speaking
with a group at her own Mary Our Queen Church. In the past two years, Casey has spoken
to many others at classes and conferences at universities and colleges, more than
20 book-signings, more than 25 other speaking engagements and was interviewed
by 14 Radio and TV Shows.
Morley
recently received a letter from The White House, signed by President Obama, which
reads, in part: “Sexual assault is an affront to our basic decency and
humanity. I admire your courage in sharing your story of an issue that affects
all of us and is about the safety of those we love most: our moms, wives,
daughters and sons. They must know they
are not alone and that we stand with them.”
Post Script: All are welcome to attend and admission free presentation hosted at the St. Dominic Community Learning Center by its Parish of the Future (POTF) Education Committee.
Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Dick Fortunato is a writer, columnist and proactive advocate for community and church service and volunteer in Southington since his retirement and move to Southington in 1995. Comments welcome at dick617@gmail.com
