‘Livin’ It’: A Bad Kid Defies the Odds

In his memoir “Livin’ It,” Michael Perzel shares the unvarnished story of his teenage delinquency, from 1967 to 1975, and how he turned his life around.

When I look back on a life that began in the Abbotsford projects in Philadelphia and stretched across three decades of hard‑won success, I’m reminded of a simple truth: the past shapes us, but it doesn’t have to define us. I was the youngest of four boys, born in 1956. My earliest memories are of Mayfair – the streets taught me early on that authority, whether police officers, nuns, or a baseball coach, was something to question rather than obey.

By the time I reached Lincoln High School, I’d already tasted trouble: a first drink, drug, girlfriend and a series of petty burglaries, and a strong lesson. A turning point arrived in my late teens, when a looming prison sentence forced me to reconsider my path. I walked away from trouble, channeling my energy into a career in insurance. Over the years I built my own firm, employing many wonderful people, earning enough to retire comfortably at 66 in 2022.

When I shared my upbringing with my friend, award-winning writer Rick Mowat, he encouraged me to put memories on paper, and together we wrote the book. The result is “Livin’ It: The True Story Of A Bad Kid From Philly Who Defies The Odds,” published in 2025, with the audio book released in 2026. The book chronicles my teenage years from 1967 to 1975, names have been changed, but every anecdote is rooted in fact.

Writing was harder than I imagined; the process brought me to tears more than once. Yet the response has been humbling: over 130 five‑star reviews on Amazon praise the unvarnished honesty of the narrative. One reader asked, “Is a movie next?” – I certainly hope so.

Retirement has given me the freedom to focus on philanthropy. I’ve helped raise more than $300,000 for under‑privileged youth through Susan’s Charity for Children, a tribute to my mother. I still receive letters from grateful recipients, students who used a modest grant to buy textbooks and earn dean’s list honors. Myself and my wife, Annette, our 34^th wedding anniversary this year, are moving to Florida, where I plan to spend time woodworking, golfing, traveling and writing. My story is proof that even the most turbulent beginnings can lead to a rewarding life, filled with happiness and purpose.

If you wonder whether your own former mistakes can be transformed into something positive, remember: it’s never too late to write your narrative, and make peace with your past.

Please find a short excerpt from my book below

‘Livin’ It’: True Story of a Bad Kid from Philly Who Defies the Odds’

Prologue

I was once out strolling one very hot summer’s day
When I thought I’d lay myself down to rest
I laid there in the sun and felt it caressing my face…
As I fell asleep and dreamed – “Spill the Wine” by Eric Burden and War.

The first 45 record I ever bought.

I was 11 years old and I cut school for two weeks straight. It’s 1967 and America was going through an incredible phase called the 60s. If you missed it – well, I’m sorry. It was a decade chock full of all kinds of fun things one could do, but out of all of the delightful ways the 60s provided to while away the day, cutting school was way up there. We’ll get to all the other crazy things shortly. I would go down to the woods that were no more than a 10 minute walk from my house. I had my favorite spot – a patch of grass about 20 square feet in size on the edge of the “crick” – otherwise known as a creek in most of the rest of the world.

There was an amazingly large oak tree that hung over a perfectly maintained patch of grass. I would go there, take off my clothes and lie in that lush chunk of nature. Occasionally I would climb the tree and find a spot where I could stretch all the way out and just chill. It was a perfect spring day, balmy air with a scent of fresh pine and blooming azaleas that’s hard to beat. I utilized two branches to accomplish my mission. Beat the hell out of fourth period social studies. It was heaven. One day while napping in the tree, I was harshly awakened by two “Parkies,” or as they were better known, Philadelphia Mounted Police. They patrolled this area called Pennypack Park. As I emerged from my lovely and comforting slumber I realized they were laughing. Can you imagine a little kid, naked, lying in a tree, taking a nap? I’d be laughing, too. They told me to get dressed, which I did with great speed and efficiency, and before I even had my T-shirt back on, they promptly hoisted me onto the back of one of their horses. We galloped away as I held tightly to the uniformed Parkie.

Embarrassing.

They took me to their remote police horse station, which was nothing more than a small shack. With all three of us in there, it was really cramped. And be aware, I was a skinny little kid. No more than 80 pounds dripping wet. They called my house, but luckily no one answered. They were as stern and humorless as the nuns at my enthralling Catholic school. More, much more on that later. But my guess is that the Parkies probably laughed their asses off, after I was gone. They said to go home and explain to my mom (or dad) what had happened they were going to call and keep calling until they spoke to my parents. I of course said “Yes sir”, nearly saluting them in the process. I ran all the way home and promptly took the phone off the hook.

That was my first encounter with the law. There would be plenty more to follow.

Michael Perzel is a retired insurance broker, author, and community volunteer. You can reach him at michaelperzel0@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/mike.perzel.9.

“Livin’ It” by Michael Perzel and Rick Mowat on Amazon