Sheryl Aronson’s Passing Myself Down to the Grave

A Review
by Mick Carlon

Sheryl Aronson’s memoir Passing Myself Down to the Grave is a raw, remarkably honest yet ultimately uplifting story of one woman’s journey through breast cancer and its harrowing effects.

Says Aronson: “My journey back into LIFE occurred by passing through what I call ’12 years of Despair.’  During this time I never believed I could burst out of the pool of hope ever again, and breathe the sweet air of life’s pleasures.”

A family therapist in a successful practice with her then husband, Aronson is naturally hit hard by the cancer diagnosis and its resulting treatment. Her writing is powerful and pitiless: “My worst imaginings did not even come close to the reality of this liquid torture coursing through my blood stream;Exposed, naked, the cold air sweeps over the moonscape that is now my bald head.

A unique aspect of the memoir is the inclusion of a screenplay of a film named Passing, also written by Aronson. The struggles of the screenplay’s protagonist, Cleo, mirror Aronson’s own in a brutally poetic way. The reader not only becomes invested in the author, but in her fictional creation as well.

Aronson is an insightful writer who describes her struggles with the clear eye of the trained psychologist. For example, while attending a class in an outpatient facility, she writes: I have run these groups. I have taught these classes. I understand the psychological principles being fed to me, but have no power to act on any of them.

Yet this memoir is also bursting with heart and redemption. Through courage, resiliency, and a strong religious faith, Aronson climbs up and out from her private hell to live a new life filled with creativity, social engagement, and good work. “The workings of God’s hands fall upon me. I feel blessed. I feel God’s miracles surround my entire being.”

Passing Myself Down to the Grave may not be for the faint of heart, but for those willing to take a journey with a fearless writer, this exceptional memoir is a bracing and inspiring tale, told with grace and guts.

Sheryl Aronson’s
Passing Myself Down to the Grave
(A Woman’s Rise from Darkness)
A Review
by Dr. Michael Berlin

I couldn’t put this book down until I turned the last page. It isn’t often that a personal story is so compelling, so filled with truths and insights that the reader finds oneself “inside” the story. On the surface, Sheryl Aronson’s memoir, “Passing Myself Down to the Grave (A Woman’s Rise from Darkness)” is a tale too often lived by many women – a diagnosis of breast cancer, chemo, radiation and the long painful road to recovery that the lucky ones experience.

In this case, Ms. Aronson takes a dangerous and almost fatal detour into the abyss of depression and suicidal thoughts. The “road to the grave” that Ms. Aronson travels is well told and reads like a suspense novel, though it’s all too painfully true. The revelations are raw, the insights crystal clear, the pain all too real.

Thankfully, Ms. Aronson is a survivor in the true sense of the word. She has seen hell up close, even put a foot in to test the waters, but ultimately this is a story of recovery, reevaluation and a true desire to live again in a meaningful way. I applaud the author her courage and willingness to share this story that has meaning for both women and the men who share their lives.

A Review
by Cate Caplin

If you suffer, if you lose your way so completely and believe there’s no path back to life, this book will speak to you. If you plunge into the dark, scary places of your soul by circumstances out of your control, or if you choose to visit this place voluntarily, because you think darkness is what you deserve and happiness eludes every step you take, know that Sheryl Aronson has been there, and has successfully returned to the light.

Ms. Aronson shares a fascinating and intimate story of her life’s challenge in the face of cancer. It is an inspiring tale of a spirit soaring high above the clouds of limitation, obstacles and fear threatening to block one’s path. It is one woman’s journey back to life, spirit soaring again, now wiser and acutely aware of depression’s depth.

Staying in the present moment was hard but signs of hope began to appear in Sheryl’s dreams and waking life offering peace and validation from the universe that she had angels looking over her. Despite psychic pain from the past, Sheryl was able to keep moving forward on the playing field of life – Taking action when confronted with obstacles and sorrow, she found great courage by facing the pain, the loss, the anger and most frightening…. death. Struggling to maintain normalcy, like a balloon slowly leaking air, Sheryl’s dynamic, vibrant vitality was dissipating in her roles as mom, wife and therapist and she found herself wrestling with demons on daily basis. This is a story of survival, and one woman’s fight to see beauty in life and beauty in herself living each day fully with no road map.

The woman who managed to exist for over 50 years abruptly finds herself with no home, no resting place, no connection to anything familiar, no peace, no laugher, and no memories of happiness and safety. Breast cancer, hospitalization, divorce, severe isolation, depression and anxiety, leaves Sheryl passing herself by like a ghost wandering in the pit of despair. Anti-depressants, psychiatrists, support groups and fearing for her sanity leads to her contemplating death on a daily basis – but still, the universe kept dropping gifts materially, emotionally, and spiritually into Sheryl’s lap. There were signs from above that someone was watching over her and she was reborn eternally while gaining great appreciation for every precious moment of her existence.

Sheryl passed through the canal of darkness and now stands on the stage of her new life exposed, raw, and ready for a new turn. Surfacing from a dark empty place she believed she’d never rise from again, with gratitude, peace and happiness, Sheryl covers her inner being with a permanent residence and miracles continue to bless her life; She emerges from death’s hold and finds a way back with a renewed faith in life.

Ms. Aronson’s writing is blazingly honest and straight from the heart… a gift of hope and personal strength midst turbulent times and personal challenges.

********************

Cate Caplin is a multiple award winning Director, Choreographer and World Champion Theatrical Ballroom Dancer – She a published writer and was the Executive Editor of WIT Magazine and Contributing Writer and Theatre/Dance Critic for Japan Elle, Eye on the Arts, American Premiere, LA Review, LA Performer and IN Theatre Magazines. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.