The Long Way Around A Memoir by Leon Mecham

Leon Mecham grew up in poverty, in a family whose Mormon values were starkly juxtaposed to the lives they led. Leon felt nothing but rejection and disdain from drug-addicted parents who abused him, belittled him, and took advantage of him, sending him off to the Texas oil fields when he was just eighteen to earn money to help support the family. From then on, living on his own, he fought his own demons and his own addictions. He dealt with his own heartbreak, learning the harshest of life's lessons along the way. In his memoir, Leon shares his unapologetic account of his experience with the Mormon religion, how he found his footing, and stayed true to himself, despite sometimes unbearable circumstances. From working as child on the farm his family was hired to run, to becoming "oil field trash" as a hired hand on oil rigs in Texas, to developing a love for motorcycles and riding, becoming an ordained minister in the Mormon church, becoming a sought-after builder in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and losing everything to a marriage gone bad, Leon also nearly lost his will to live. His is a story of being resilient and accountable, of believing in oneself, and standing firm when one's world is wavering. His is a story of survival -- physical and emotional -- and proves that a man's character is not determined by his upbringing but is embedded in his soul and nurtured by the dictates of his own heart.

Leon Mecham and his wife, Renee, live in Fredericksburg, Texas, where they enjoy a quiet life, occasional rides on their Harley, and the contentment of having stayed true to themselves.