Last week I happened to attend my very first book opening which happened to be for one of my friends from primary school. As she sat reading a few chapters out to her captive audience, I was thrown back 30 years to the days I knew her in Primary School.

Casey B Dolan was in my eyes the strongest girl I knew. Full of confidence, over-flowing with life and just magnetic to be around. She feared nothing. She stood up for what she believed and was always looking for her next adventure.

She was in fact completely opposite to me. I was shy, nervous and insecure. I was terrified of speaking in crowds; I hid behind the other girls and would never voice my opinion. I felt safe around her. She made me laugh. She protected me. Being told at one of her birthday parties to imagine we were ballerinas all day has stuck in my head forever.

Our school trip to Cape Town when we were 10 years old. (We didn’t do selfies in those days, I was taking the picture).

The same trip where I sat on an ostrich. This photo was taken 3 seconds before the bird turned around and pecked me so hard I cried in front of all my school mates.

I lost contact with Casey after primary school. I had seen her pictures in magazines. I listened to her on 5FM. So reading her memoir “Appetite for peas” totally floored me. I had grown up believing that this strong, confident friend of mine had grown up where the world was her oyster. But for those who have read Casey’s book, you will know that behind the beautiful smile lies a very sad past where she writes a raw, open & honest account of her abusive relationships and struggles with family.

Our perceptions of people and what we imagine in our heads of what their lives to be like are sometimes so far from reality. All that glitters is not always gold.

Holding her new book, “When the bough breaks” in my hand and hearing of how she has just recently won the Best Actress award for her role in “Konfetti” at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival Awards made me smile. This is her world. This is exactly where I expected to find my old friend. In the limelight she loves and where she can shower others with her massive smile, her catchy laughter and her love for the arts. Well done Casey!

“When the bough breaks” book launch at Annica’s.