'Scattershot' A Bipolar Family Portrait
In his memoir, Scattershot, David Lovelace chronicles what he calls "the family sickness." Terri Cheney joins the discussion and shares details from Manic , a chronicle of her own struggle with bipolar disorder.
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'Scattershot' A Bipolar Family Portrait : NPR@import "/templates/css/mainstyles.css";@import "/templates/css/bucket_alt.css";@import "/templates/css/stories.css";@import "/templates/css/print_stories.css"; // Hourly News Summary 24-hour Program Stream | Schedule //'); document.write(''); //]]> // News/Talk Morning Edition All Things Considered The Bryant Park Project Day to Day Fresh Air News & Notes Talk of the Nation Tell Me More Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday Music All Songs Considered From the Top JazzSet Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz Mountain Stage World Cafe World of Opera MORE PROGRAMS A-Z Non-Fiction'Scattershot' A Bipolar Family Portrait Listen Now [30 min 20 sec] add to playlist Ben BarnhartDavid Lovelace chronicles what he calls "the family sickness" in Scattershot. “We're ashamed and afraid of our minds.”David Lovelace in 'Scattershot' Does your family have a history of bipolar disorder? Talk of the Nation, September 4, 2008 · In his memoir, Scattershot, David Lovelace talks candidly about the effects bipolar disorder — or manic depression — has had on his family."I've seen both my parents drown in the sickness," Lovelace writes, "I've seen my brother sink down. I've denied my own madness and I've loved it almost to death."Terri Cheney joins the discussion and shares details from Manic, a chronicle of her own struggle with bipolar disorder."It's a real disease," Cheney told Michel Martin in a Feb. 2008 interview on Tell Me More, "It's as physical as the flu or diabetes. It's not just about being crazy, it's about being forced to be crazy."Excerpt: 'Scattershot'by David Lovelace Note: This excerpt contains language that some readers may find offensive. I opened the door, the kids tackled me, and my wife said, "You need to call your dad. He's been leaving messages for days." I dropped my pack, kissed them all, and sat down. "You need to call him now. I tried to reach you." Hunter pushed onto my lap."Why? What is it?""It's strange. He sounds pretty strange."I knew what it was already. I should have seen it before I left town. I wanted to come home and tell stories, hear the kids talk, but instead I moved to the bedroom and locked the door. I lay facedown as the kids rattled the doorknob and called from the hall. "What did you bring back, Dad? What did you get us?" They began quarreling. I pulled a stuffed toy, some markers, and a pouch of fool's gold from my carry-on, opened the door, and passed out the gifts. I sat on the bed and tried to think it out slowly but I couldn't. It was pointless. I knew what it was and hit play."Hi, David, hello, Roberta. This is Dad Lovelace, Richard Lovelace. Mom is much better now. She's more herself. We've been praying and singing hymns. She enjoys that. Dad Lovelace." Not good. The "Dad Lovelace" thing did not sound good."Hello again, David and Roberta. Dad Lovelace again. I just wanted to mention that there's really no reason for you to come down. Mom is much better, more herself. The family gathering was just a real shock to her system. I think she just needs to rest, so don't come down. It's not a good idea. Thanks, Richard Lovelace." The "Richard" thing was worse.Before I left for Colorado, I had driven my folks back to Boston's North Shore to see family. I now acted as chauffeur. My mother was eighty-one that year and t