Bonding with another human being is not a casual want. It's a fundamental need. People of all ages hunger for connections of the body, heart, and mind. The cast of characters in The Sled Rider understands this well. Each one, in his or her way, yearns for a union that will replace the gloom of loneliness with the shimmer of sheltering love. Young Jason, the forlorn product of his parents' hopeless marriage, numbs his innate longing with alcohol and delinquency until an older woman penetrates his sorrow and teaches him about passion and devotion. Diana, spirited and sincere, guards a personal secret that, in time, leads Jason into her eager arms. Tammi, Jason's depressed and discouraged mother, turns her back on her husband and son as she submits to the power of her demanding drug addiction. Stan, Jason's responsible father, struggles to keep it all together after the chaos of the '60s changes his life forever.Author Larry E. Bridgham relates first hand to Jason's throbbing ache for love, but it is the author's relationship to an actual family member that inspired him to write this story. Look forward to another book by the author as he is a student of human behavior who is compelled to write. Larry E. Bridgham is the associate director of a university health center. He lives in Cocoa, Florida.