It's Me by Reva Patrick Coon

Chapter 14 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon vividly captures her early 20th-century childhood memories in Seattle and Dunsmuir, California. Reva recounts Sunday walks with her father, from toddler terrors like a giant octopus at a marine museum to fears of Native Americans fueled by Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and her father's warnings about "Siwash." Overcoming prejudices...

Chapter 13 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon celebrates her profound teaching legacy and heartfelt honors in Dunsmuir, California. From a humble store-bought cake gifted by Italian immigrant student Mr. Rossetti upon U.S. citizenship to a $25,000+ Riva P. Kuhn Scholarship Fund from 400+ alumni, Reva reflects on plaques, citations, and President Reagan's letter for her Dunsmuir Centennial l...

Chapter 12 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon chronicles her thrilling senior travels at age 70+: first transatlantic flight to Britain for Queen Elizabeth's Trooping the Colour (early curb spot amid crowds), Isle of Skye, Loch Ness hunt; solo Irish Republic tour (Killarney jaunting car, Limerick castle); Austria's operatic splendor—Vienna State Opera dress circle, Lipizzaner horses, Mo...

Chapter 11 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon embarks on her lifetime of rail and river adventures, starting with 1946 cross-country train to NYC (Grand Central, Statue of Liberty climb, nightclub) with daughter Barbara on $250 budget via husband Burton's SP pass. Later: Expo 67 World's Fair Montreal, Maine lobster frights, Cornish ancestors; luxurious cruises—Alaska calving glaciers, P...

Chapter 10 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon poignantly explores a lifetime shadowed by death and grief, from childhood losses—a baby robin, drowned kittens, Spanish Flu victims—to family tragedies: friends, Civil War grandpa tales, WWI uncles, WWII kin, Korean/Vietnam sons, murdered/flight crash grandchildren. Reva confronts cruelty (guns, hunting), life's fragility, finding light amid Du...

Chapter 9 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon spotlights her enchanting theater life: starstruck encounters with Richard Burton (Hamlet), Elizabeth Taylor, Yehudi Menuhin/Fritz Kreisler violin recitals, Helen Keller speech, John Philip Sousa. From directing Dunsmuir High plays/operettas to Broadway's West Side Story, her charm bracelet—tokens from productions—symbolizes a lifelong passion fo...

Chapter 8 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon chronicles a century of American wars through her eyes: childhood Civil War grandpa tales, WWII homefront airplane spotting in Dunsmuir, Korean/Vietnam losses, 9/11 horror, Iraq reflections. She mourns shifting patriotism—from unity to division—amid personal ties to conflicts shaping small-town life near Mount Shasta.​ War Generations : Civil War sto...

Chapter 7 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon soars through her "lifetime of survivals": colon cancer surgery (2001, fluttering wings anesthesia), breast mastectomy (1989), multiple hip fractures/replacements (1965 ice fall, 1978, 1990 SF stairs), hysterectomy (1997 at 93), black widow spider bite, bionic upgrades—resilience personified in Dunsmuir.​ Medical Triumphs : Dr. Sternberg/Na...

Chapter 6 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon details her unexpected Dunsmuir teaching career: sidetracked violinist dreams for English/glee club (1925, $90/month hunger), mother's stroke grief, WWII short days/jobs, pie-chomping Tony, Sonoma quake/"Birdman Alcatraz" hysteria, elder hostels—37 rewarding years retiring 1966.​Key Themes and SEO Highlights Early Struggles : Hotel crac...

Chapter 5 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon passionately recounts her lifelong violin devotion: age-12 start, Orly C (SF Symphony) lessons/recitals (Beethoven Minuet flop redo), soirees with pros, Stradivarius trial, Fritz Kreisler idol (rediscovered sheet music at 102), arthritis halt, Dunsmuir solo/teaching despite gender bans.​ Musical Mentors : Orly/Adelaide C adoption, elite Ibel Club snu...

Chapter 4 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon weaves her 1920s romance with baseball star Burton "Bones" Coon: fateful double date via Andrew Leach/Eleanor Van Fossen, basketball court "hook," shy engagement ring reveal by brother Boosie, simple Medford Baptist wedding in linen sheath (no church dream), fulfilled decades later giving away daughter.​ Love Story Sparks : Harvey...

Chapter 3 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon cherishes lifelong bonds: violin mentors Orly/Adelaide C (SF Symphony soirees), college playmate Helen Robart, elite Eleanor Van Fossen/Harrison (social graces), adoptive Wattenbergers (Depression gifts), surrogate Minnie Lockhart (mothering), Mamie Poe (Burton death vigil), Grace Harris (centennial book), "other kids" Altos.​ Inner Circle...

Chapter 2 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon opens doors to her lifetime homes: Seattle Cape Cod birth/bay window, San Diego cottage/nanny goat, desert shanty sandstorm hell, Oakland Victorians/garden magnolias, Berkeley near UC, Dunsmuir's Travelers Hotel/Fisher/Hollis/Rose cottage, cherished 57-year Beverly Way (fireplace build), Montclair Sky Room, Morgan Manor retirement.​ Humble to Hea...

Chapter 1 of  It's Me  by Reva Patrick Coon roots her Irish-American saga: 1732 Patrick Kentucky/Indiana farmers, McKinneys Minnesota/Wisconsin; adventurer father Thomas McVeigh meets soprano mother Martha Jane McKinney at Seattle Presbyterian (cousin pastor), 1904 birth (12.5 lbs), infant Paul loss, siblings Sarah/Richard, Uncle Ralph hugs, Burke Rothers moon songs.​ Family Traditions : Chick...

Hi, I'm Andy Coon, grandson of Reva Patrick Coon. Discover her memoir  It's Me , written at 99 (lived to 104). Actress Sarah Bronwyn Kelly brings her Dunsmuir life to vivid audio: Irish roots, violin, teaching, dances, travels & wisdom near Mt. Shasta. Family-made (14 episodes). Trailer: Meet Reva, her story, & why it lives on. Subscribe for full chapters! Read by Sarah Kelly | Hos...