Responding to a question from a friend last night I said, “Writing is my hobby.” Writing is still my hobby because I have not finished the book that I promised Pam I would publish, and I still have a full-time job. For years, I used my hobby to write our Christmas letter. Pam would add…
Grief and Healing 5 – The Birthday
Pamela Joy, Here I am on what would have been your 60th birthday. It was always the best day of the year for me. It was our biggest holiday of the year since we fell in love in 1994. Why did it become my favorite day of the year? Do I really need to explain…
Grief and Healing 4 – The Fog of War
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,…