My wife was sleeping on the couch in the family room but as I gently lifted her feet to make room for me, she awakened. “What time is it?” she asked. “Three in the morning,” I replied. “Why are you up so early?” I didn’t immediately reply but just took her hand with one of […]
Letter: I Needed This
The salmon were running. My brother had caught a 25 lb king salmon – his largest salmon ever – not a month before. But when he called to invite me to join him on his boat, it was less about catching fish than catching up. He’d been to my wife’s graveside. And he came to […]
Letter: On Going Back to School
What does it take to defend the castle against fire-breathing dragons? Even, and maybe especially if you are the princess and not the prince? More problematic, what if you are so small in stature that your sword is longer than you are tall? The answer to this and most if not all challenges in life […]
Letter: Along A Country Road
I love country roads. My wife of 50 years married did too. Especially in our little green bug, our first car. And especially in the spring when wanderlust beckons after a long, drab winter. Most of our life we lived in the slow lane, really a two-lane backroad, one lane each direction. Never straight, at […]
Letter: Traveling On
The day Hospice arrived at our home to care for my wife through her last days here on earth, the One Year Bible reading for that day, this past February 19, would be then helpful, and is now healing. To read that the Lord knows – that he observes with singular care and affection, as […]
Letter: What Starts with ‘D’?
‘D’ is for duck. And daisy. And Dutch. My wife was Dutch. And ‘D’ is for David. That’s me. ‘Day’ starts with ‘D’. And there was a day I’ll never forget, never regret, for however many more days I have left. It was the day fifty years ago that this David proposed to that beautiful […]
Letter: Lessons Among the Flowers
Why are you always watering the flowers?” my preschooler granddaughter wanted to know. Redirecting the spray to yet another flower, I responded, “When it’s so hot like this, do you drink water?” “Yes,” she replied. “And sometimes lemonade.” “Well, it’s the same with flowers. They love water. I’m not so sure though about lemonade.” Since […]
Letter: I’ll Meet You at the River
“Soon we’ll reach the shining river,Soon our pilgrimage will cease;Soon our happy hearts will quiver,With the melody of peace.” It was the last stanza of the last hymn sung at his memorial service. It was chosen because his wife had once said to him “If I go first, I’ll meet you at the river.” Her […]
Letter: The Courage to Go On
Ever since I lost my wife not five months ago to cancer, my happy place has been among the flowers. It is incredible to me to see how beautiful, how exquisite, how delicate, and detailed are these displays of an artistry the great painters of history would be hard pressed to design. I think the […]