I Love You, Mitya
My Amusing Memories of Growing up Sad, Sweet, and Catholic
by Karen Eckert

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In this whimsical, humour-filled memoir, author Karen Eckert shares her journey through the pivotal moments of her formative years. Her story is illustrated with a vibrant collection of photographs, cartoons, reconstructions of past conversations, and excerpts from Karen’s journals and letters, all of it working together to paint a picture of a young woman struggling to find her place in the world. At the core of Karen’s story is her silent battle with loneliness and the shadows of clinical depression—a struggle that remained largely invisible to those around her. Through a blend of professional intervention, medication, and her unwavering faith in God, Karen recounts how she eventually moved from a place of suffering to a state of relative peace and acceptance. This memoir is not just a recounting of hardships but also a testament to the transformative power of hope and healing. Karen’s journey is an inspiration to anyone who feels alone in their struggles, providing a comforting reminder that peace is always within reach no matter how dark the world appears.

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Karen Eckert has an honours BA in Dramatic Arts and English Literature from the University of Western Ontario and a BEd and an OTC from the University of Toronto. She also received a diplôme annuel from the Sorbonne in Paris, France. She has written several children’s stories and edited various published articles. Karen taught high school English from 1982 to 2016, with the last seventeen years spent at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts in Toronto. She now teaches drama at a community centre and produces puppet shows for children. She raised three great sons who are well established in their own careers. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

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Contributors

Author

Karen Eckert

Illustrator

Val Lawton