Introduction (11/11/24)

 Life has been relatively easy up to this point in that most of the problems I’ve run into have been my own, usually precipitated by my own foolish choices or impure motives. Unconsciously I’ve tried to keep my distance from some of the darker realities of the world that we live in, almost as though I was afraid that if I got too close to pain and suffering I might catch some of it. This past week our family has come face to face with the reality of death, suddenly and unexpectedly. It is every bit as horrible and terrifying as I imagined it would be, and if you’re looking to have your spirits lifted I can recommend some better reading choices than what follows. On the other hand, we are all on the same path. For some of us, that road leads to losing the people we love the most. For others, we will unexpectedly receive the news that our time on this earth is shorter than we anticipated and there won’t be the opportunity to grieve our loved ones.

Our family has done a lot of hiking in the past couple of years. Sometimes we’ll pass other travelers headed in the other direction and ask them about the trail ahead. How much farther is it (Pallisades Creek trail, Idaho)? How steep is it (Camelback trail, Phoenix)? Do you think my children and elderly parents will be OK walking along the edge of that cliff (Highline trail, Glacier National Park)? What I hope to accomplish with these posts is to give you the best representation of what lies ahead, knowing that each of you will follow the same trail markers sooner or later. I realize that many of you already recognize some of these surroundings. If so, please do not hesitate to share your thoughts and experiences with us. I know they say it’s insensitive to offer advice and share how you understand what we’re going through based on your own experiences. That’s OK. If you stick your foot in your mouth, I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to sort out the difference between your path and ours and we will still benefit from any suggestions you have, even if the directions aren’t perfect. We will take as many resources as you are willing to send our way. The same goes for asking questions. Nothing is off limits. In Joyce’s words: “My life is an open book. I hope it will be a beautiful love story when it’s all said and done.” My plan is to start each update by attempting to answer questions that people have. If I know the answers I will provide them. If I’m not sure, I will do my best. If you have come across an answer that I haven’t discovered yet, please share.

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