The Occasional Man

It is often said that wild, impetuous, romantic love is for the young. For Shirley White Pearl, true romance arrived when she was forty-six years old. It was to be her greatest love and a romance that would endure the test of time. Filled with joys, world travels and countless shared celebrations of life, it eclipsed all her previous relationships. Yet, it was an improbable one, for Fred was an “occasional man” who remained so for the duration of their long and passionate affair. Whether hiking the mountains of British Columbia, sailing the waters of the Caribbean, skiing the wilds of northern Minnesota or trekking the savannas of Africa, theirs was truly a moveable feast—one that was rich and deeply fulfilling, but not without obstacles. With candor, humor and grace, Shirley White Pearl shares her remarkable love story, inviting each of us to trust our instincts, pursue our dreams, and most importantly, to remain young at heart and remains present for every moment of life’s journey.

It is often said that wild, impetuous, romantic love is for the young. For Shirley White Pearl, true romance arrived when she was forty-six years old. It was to be her greatest love and a romance that would endure the test of time. Filled with joys, world travels and countless shared celebrations of life, it eclipsed all her previous relationships. Yet, it was an improbable one, for Fred was an “occasional man” who remained so for the duration of their long and passionate affair. Whether hiking the mountains of British Columbia, sailing the waters of the Caribbean, skiing the wilds of northern Minnesota or trekking the savannas of Africa, theirs was truly a moveable feast—one that was rich and deeply fulfilling, but not without obstacles. With candor, humor and grace, Shirley White Pearl shares her remarkable love story, inviting each of us to trust our instincts, pursue our dreams, and most importantly, to remain young at heart and remains present for every moment of life’s journey.

Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, Dr. Shirley White Pearl attended Coe College and the University of Iowa, where she received undergraduate degrees in psychology and journalism. She subsequently received a Ph. D. in educational psychology from the University of Iowa, where she developed educational curricula for elementary students, giving them tools for dealing with life’s problems, thus serving as a possible prevention for developing maladjusted behaviors. Dr. Pearl served as educational director of the childrens’ unit at Independence Mental Health Hospital in Independence, Iowa. She later worked with the St. Paul Public Schools to develop and administer programs for children with behavior problems. With coauthor Don Challman, Dr. Pearl published a referenced instructional text, Managing Disruptive Behavior in the Elementary School. She resides in St. Paul, Minnesota where she remains actively engaged in writing and life.