actions, grow up.
And she thought about how perfect their life was otherwise. And how fragile her husband’s happiness had always seemed to her. And how sometimes it seemed as if the slightest move in any direction could bring the whole place toppling down.
DON
MIMI
DONALD
JIM
JOHN
BRIAN
MICHAEL
RICHARD
JOE
MARK
MATT
PETER
MARGARET
MARY
CHAPTER 7
On September 11, 1964, Donald Galvin, at the start of his sophomore year at Colorado State in Fort Collins, paid his first visit to the campus health center. He had come in to be treated for a minor injury to his left thumb, a bite mark from a cat. He offered no explanation for what had happened—no reason why the cat would have felt so provoked that he’d bite and not just scratch.
The next spring, Donald returned to the health center. This time, his problem was more personal, yet every bit as peculiar. He said that he’d learned that his roommate had caught syphilis, and that he was afraid that he might catch it from him by accident. Donald, who had told his parents that he wanted to study medicine one day, had to be disabused of the notion that he could get the disease in a way other than sexual intercourse.
A few weeks later, in April 1965, Donald visited the health center for a third time. He said he was at home, his family’s place on Hidden Valley Road, when one of his brothers, he did not say which one, got the jump on him, attacking him from behind. Diagnosed with back strain, he spent the night in the infirmary.
Then came the fire.
One night in the fall of 1965, Donald staggered through the health center doors with burns on his body. His sweater had caught fire, he said, during a pep rally. After a little back-and-forth, it came out that Donald had jumped straight into a bonfire. Maybe he did it to get attention, or to impress a friend, or as a cry for help. He could not say.
* * *
—
THE STAFF PULLED Donald out of his classes and sent him for a psychiatric evaluation. Major Reed Larsen, a clinical psychologist for the Air Force Academy Hospital, saw Donald four times over the next two months. This was the first time that a mental health professional examined Donald, and the first time that Donald’s parents were forced to face the possibility that all was not right with their oldest son. But whatever fears Don and Mimi had about Donald subsided when Major Larsen came back with his report. “Our findings showed no evidence of a serious thinking disorder, nor of symptoms secondary to a psychotic process,” he wrote on January 5, 1966.
Don and Mimi were reassured, even if the endorsement was hardly full-throated. To begin with, the major noted that one of Donald’s sessions took place with the assistance of sodium amytal, one variety of truth serum. Amytal interviews in psychotherapeutic settings weren’t entirely unheard of, but they were usually saved for patients who are having difficulty communicating—and, perhaps, exhibiting the signs of the catatonic variety of schizophrenia. Even so, the major recommended that Donald be allowed back to school, provided he continued to receive psychiatric help. “We did discover a number of emotional conflicts which, I feel, are disturbing enough to Mr. Galvin to account for his erratic behavior while at school,” he wrote. Such treatment could be paid for, he said, by the military’s new Medicare program for dependents.
What was bothering Donald so much that he ran into a raging fire? Before anyone could find an answer, he propelled himself back into campus life at the start of 1966, determined to make up for lost time. Donald desperately wanted to connect with people now, especially females, even as he seemed rather naive about how to find a girlfriend. The distance from others that he’d been feeling seemed even more pronounced. But he was still athletic and
<<Previous page Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 1 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 2 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 3 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 4 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 5 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 6 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 7 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 8 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 9 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 10 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 11 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 12 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 13 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 14 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 15 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 16 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 17 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 18 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 19 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 20 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 21 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 22 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 23 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 24 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 25 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 26 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 27 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 28 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 29 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 30 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 31 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 32 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 33 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 34 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 35 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 36 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 37 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 38 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 39 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 40 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 41 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 42 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 43 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 44 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 45 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 46 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 47 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 48 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 49 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 50 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 51 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 52 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 53 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 54 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 55 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 56 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 57 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 58 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 59 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 60 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 61 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 62 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 63 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 64 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 65 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 66 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 67 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 68 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 69 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 70 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 71 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 72 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 73 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 74 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 75 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 76 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 77 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 78 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 79 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 80 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 81 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 82 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 83 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 84 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 85 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 86 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 87 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 88 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 89 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 90 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 91 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 92 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 93 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 94 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 95 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 96 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 97 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 98 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 99 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 100 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 101 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 102 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 103 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 104 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 105 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 106 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 107 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 108 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 109 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 110 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 111 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 112 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 113 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 114 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 115 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 116 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 117 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 118 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 119 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 120 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 121 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 122 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 123 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 124 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 125 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 126 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 127 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 128 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 129 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 130 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 131 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 132 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 133 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 134 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 135 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 136 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 137 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 138 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 139 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 140 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 141 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 142 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 143 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 144 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 145 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 146 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 147 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 148 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 149 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 150 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 151 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 152 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 153 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 154 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 155 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 156 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 157 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 158 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 159 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 160 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 161 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 162 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 163 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 164 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 165 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 166 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 167 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 168 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 169 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 170 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 171 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 172 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 173 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 174 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 175 Hidden Valley Road - Inside the Mind of an American Family - Robert Kolker - Page 176
Next page>>