Tag Archives: Grief Memoir

Chapter 8. Grieving

3 minute read

Back in 2023, while proofreading the final copy of Willower (as a reader instead of a writer), I was wondering the whole way through, How did I do this? I know how I did it, obviously, but I mean how did I do it? Does that make sense? A lot of the text was written when I was in a much darker place, in another world. I’d worked for years, sitting with Sam, and we were writing together. Now what?

Publishing a book, I’ve learned, isn’t always celebratory. It felt more like, What do I do now? I guess it’s time to reflect on where to migrate to next.

about this chapter

Chapter 8. Grieving moves through the first year after Sam’s death (2007).

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Chapter 9. Migrating

3 minute read

I hope you’ll read my book Willower and/or share it with someone you think it may help. I know a grief memoir might not be what you had in mind for your next read, but haven’t you been averse to other things, like Brussels sprouts, but you tried them anyway? Good storytelling, no matter the subject, is just plain good storytelling. And like Brussels sprouts, reading a good book also has health benefits. And, when you do read it, you’ll also be keeping my son Sam’s memory alive. So . . . No pressure.

about this chapter

Chapter 9. Migrating moves through the years after Sam’s death (2007), from 2010 to 2018.

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Chapter 10. Seeing

2 minute read

about this chapter

Chapter 10. Seeing is set in May 2018, eleven years after Sam’s death.

In this chapter, I realize I’m coming to the end of our story, yet I question why it is I can never seem to finish it. I continue to search for meaning, an answer, a reason, a mathematical solution, anything that might be something, some connection to Sam. But . . .

I keep getting lost, ending up back at the beginning again, starting over, never finishing.

(from Chapter 10. Seeing: crazy math)
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Chapter 11. A different ending

3 minute read

Wearing my “promoting” hat instead of my “writing” bandanna is way out of my comfort zone! I don’t like selling anything, but this book was my work for sixteen years; and now, I really want this brutally sad but beautiful story to find those who need it. Maybe that’s you? Maybe it’s someone you know, support, or counsel? A friend, a neighbor, a family member? Or maybe you know me, and knew Sam, but don’t know the whole story. I hope you’ll read it.

about this chapter

One of the reasons I wrote this book: I needed our story to end differently.

I always knew what I was writing to, what the ending of this story would be: my beautiful boy Sam would live, stay alive, through the power and magic of words.

Chapter 11. A Different Ending is set eleven years after Sam’s death, in May 2018.

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