This Chicago Suburbanite literally starts her story at 72-hours old. From adoption to addiction to sick parents to divorce and remarriage, there was so much to talk through with Callie we needed two episodes.

 Listen to the first episode where Callie and I small talk about wrestling, pee wee football and youth sports in general. Callie then takes us along her childhood timeline where life is filled with more challenges than any little one, or adult for that matter, should have to process. To deal with the instability, Callie turned to teenage rebellion at an accelerated pace. Using, selling and getting busted became her norm followed by rehab and the start of a different life. Babies, marriage and losing her mom shifted her focus. Through time and self-reflection, Callie thankfully met her current husband and had two more children. Champaign has become a fresh start. A place to break the cycle of drama and grow strong roots with new friends that have become family. A place to raise a functioning, healthy family.

Emily Harrington, here! Mom, wife, retired communications liaison and host of the HyperLocal(s) Podcast. Each week I bring you a pod where townies and transplants share their tales of tears and triumphs, losses and wins. In an effort to provide a way for those that don’t want a public podcast, but still have a story to tell friends and family, I’ve created, In Retrospect: A HyperLocal(s) Project, a private podcast. Visit hyperlocalscu.com/in-retrospect

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