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Five Years Today
Today marks 5 years that Nick has been absent from our lives. Every June 20th goes by without a birthday celebration. There are no calls and there never will be again. Just a deafening silence th...
The Rough Draft
I’ve been asked to speak at my brother’s memorial. Writing the tribute has been tough, but here’s the rough draft: “Brother and sister relationships are unique. In many ways, [Brother] and I were...
Out of the Loop but Staying Public
No idea what happened. I’ve been so wrapped up in my brother’s death that just keeping up with the notes of well-wishers on FB and PB has been about all I can handle. Right now, I’m working on wh...
He's Gone
My brother passed away this morning. Last night was rough.
In the Waiting
My brother was restless this morning, becoming agitated when they moved him from ICU to the pallative care floor. The noisy machines are off. He is on a saline drip and morphine. I don’t think he...
Time is Precious and Limited
My brother’s night was not good. He tried to get up unassisted and was restless in the early morning hours. The doctor instructed SIL to call family in for a last visit. A Chaplin is coming at 1....
A One-Track Life
We went to Tampa to see my brother last week. He had a bad night on Friday and was still struggling when we arrived Saturday. His breathing was rapid and shallow, he had a lot of pain in the ribc...
Going Downhill
My brother will be on a ventilator today. His situation is much worse. Prayers appreciated. We’re headed to Tampa.
Waiting for Margaritaville
They are still waiting for results but the doctors are pretty sure its esophageal cancer. SIL said my brother needs surgery asap or he won’t make it, so she’s hoping surgery on Friday but that’s ...
Quick Update
Just a quick note to let you all know that my brother is not out of the woods (lung biopsy tomorrow, endoscopy on Wednesday) but the “super oxygen” and “super antibiotics” (vico-something) has he...
The Part Left Unspoken
I wrote this e-mail to family and friends who want updates on my brother’s condition: “My [SIL] called and she’s pretty discouraged, enough that she’s finally agreed to a second opinion at Mayo i...
Chasing the Dragon
There’s a reason it’s called “Chasing the Dragon”. Heroin has surged once again in our community. The first hint came last night when I called to follow up on a client, who told me he’d been aske...
'Twas the Week Before Christmas...
…when all through the house, the a/c was running…‘cause we live in the south! :) (Gotcha!) Christmas preparations are done. I have some pre-holiday cooking each day for the Christmas meal, but no...
Putting My House in Order
I’ve neglected Prosebox, but I doubt I’ll improve until after the holidays. Just a few more gifties to buy. Costco has a neat thing for my gardening friends: a rosemary plant that is trimmed in t...
Just a Quickie!
A quick entry, but thought you’d enjoy seeing my eldest son’s latest. His client asked for a dresser that was rustic yet sophisticated. He made this and the client was thrilled. She was ecstatic ...
Of Pineapples and Walks and Things Within my Control
I’ve been busy picking pineapples. I’ve pulled 22 so far (given away about 7 or 8) and all that is left are 6 small pineapples, but we have more plants that will probably be producing baby pineap...
Pretty Much Nothing but Pictures...
Well, you’ve seen the “before” and “during”, so here is the “after” (flooring man and electrician not quite done, but our part, other than getting final inspection and getting that attractive dum...
We Demolished Our Diary Friend's Mom's Kitchen!
But we’re fixing it. :) While I’ve often posted “before” and “after” pictures, I’m breaking with tradition by posting “before” and “during” shots. Usually I like to wait until the end of the job,...
Catching Up is Hard to Do
Sorry to be lax in writing. We’ve had a bit of an Easter uprising with a few people at church eye roll so I’m doing extra volunteer stuff on top of the new ministry of reaching out in concrete wa...
Ch-ch-ch-Changes…
Well, as most of you know, we’re going to do the work on kitchen remodel. To be honest, I never expected to get it. I was more concerned about making sure she didn’t get cheated, so I suggested ...
Gossip? Again?
Okay. I get it. From time to time, we ALL gossip to one degree or another. But sometimes, it just hurts. As most of you know, my son died of hyperthyroidism, possibly inherited, possibly triggere...
Redneck Livin’ and the State Fair
I come from an eclectic background. My father, a northeastern Italian, became quite successful in the 1950s and 60s. My mother, a third generation Florida Cracker, was born beautiful and dirt poo...
Holy Cow! Downton Blood Bath!
Just watched Downton Abbey and can only say the dinner table scene made me jump in my seat! I’m disappointed in the weak resolutions to storylines (Lady Mary’s blackmailer, Baxter’s non-confronta...
Lightening the Load
Not much happening in my life right now. I picked up a few SEO pages, but nothing much on the horizon. Instead, I am back on a downsize wagon. I swear we spend our first 50 years accumulating and...
2016? Already?
Hard to believe, but here it comes. I won’t be sorry to say good-bye to 2015 and the heartbreaks it delivered, first as we fought the devil for Nick’s addiction and then losing him to thyroid dis...
Book Description
The loss of a child, no matter what age, is devastating. It seems an insult to nature’s natural laws. This is my story of losing my son, Nicholas, at age 30 and the insights gained from the experience. It is written mostly for me, to try to make sense and put order to the chaos death leaves in its wake, but also written for others, that they might find healing in some of my perspectives. Grab a box of tissue. You’ll need it.
