Dad knew the fog of war. I do not. In 1944, my dad was in a field between hedge rows in France. His duty had several facets. He was a soldier who was responsible to engage the enemy, drive them back, win the battle and win the war. He was also responsible for keeping the…
Grief and Healing 3 – The Moment
Sitting in church on September 4, 2022, I was much better, but still feeling the intermittent pain of my wife’s passing. Pam was bright in every way. She stood out in a crowd and people were drawn to her smile. They soon found her to be a loving person who was generous with everything and…
Grief and Healing 2 – The River
This is Where I Live I found myself there in the river’s current. I thought I could swim out at first, so I headed toward the river bank. Stroke after stroke after stroke, but when I looked up the bank was further away. The current was pulling me to the center and down the river…
Grief and Healing 1 – Compassion Fatigue
In the large hotel ballroom, Julie began her address to the conference. Julie Wood was presenting the keynote address for the day at 8 AM to a group of regulatory officials and industry stake holders. I did not know that she was going to address the grief I was trying to conceal. “You’re very good…
The Shower
Sunday, July Twenty-Fourth in a Durham, North Carolina Hotel The shower in the hotel room was hot. Adjusting the faucet made little difference to the temperature, but it was bearable. The water hit my skin and ran over my face as memories flooded my mind. There was a night, a long time ago, when the…
Here I Cry
To Pamela Joy Here in our bed I cry I woke up looking for you my darling Today I am supposed to say goodbye Yet search I will again, tomorrow morning Brad
Right Turn in Life
This is not the usual story that I place on my blog, but please don’t stop reading because the story will follow. Yesterday morning at 8 AM my heart was broken and my life was shattered. I leaned over my beautiful wife and said, “I love you. I have always loved you. I will always…
I Failed – Revived
In honor of the late Paul Harvey, Now for the Rest of the Story; Picking up from the end of the blog story “I Failed” The car’s gas gauge read below empty at least 10 miles from home that evening. But, on Sunday morning, we drove it to church and back home. On Sunday night,…
We Were the Lucky Ones By Georgia Hunter
A Wreckless Book Review This is a griping and powerful book, but it simply follows the personal lives of a family. There are so many take aways from reading this book that each reader will find their own. There were times I wanted to stop reading the book because the reality of pain described was…
I Failed
Driving up I-77 in South Carolina toward Charlotte North Carolina I was not sure I had the gas to make it home. All I felt was fear. The reason for my fear was miles behind me in Columbia, but I could not shake it, or out run it. The real concern was right there in…