Today, I wept. I smiled. I paced the corridors of the church as the gears inside my mind spun frantically. I sat in silence. I asked for guidance. I found clarity. It was never my fault. As most people know, I was there with Emily during, as far as I know, her...
Last night, I attended my church’s Maundy Thursday service. This particular service was a first for me, and although I expected it to be a somber event given its focus, I did not anticipate the waves of emotions I experienced multiple times throughout. Each part...
Today is Saturday, March 23, 2024. It’s finally here: the day that would have been our wedding day. It’s a day I started dreaming about within the first two months of Emily and I “leveling up” to couple status. And, it’s a day Emily...
In the sixteen months since Emily died, I’ve maintained a fairly busy life between a full-time job and several freelance clients. Unfortunately, this means that there’s usually one night each week where I just need to relax. To make it interesting for the...
Back in January, I went to Chattanooga with Rebecca. It was the first trip I’ve taken with a romantic partner since Emily’s death, which I thought would be weird. For the most part, though, it ended up being a lot of fun. On Saturday evening, we cooked at...
Loss is a funny thing. When someone dies, they disappear. Yet, at the same time, the relationships we developed during the person’s lifetime continue to exist, almost like fossils that outlive the flesh. What gets a lot of us into trouble, however, is the way in...
This has been a wild weather week for all of us here in Tennessee. Most of us saw at least 5 inches of snow fall Sunday and Monday, but it hasn’t melted yet. The last time I remember us getting this much snow was 2021 — a much different time in my life. However,...
As I was driving home tonight after enjoying dinner with two of my best friends, I had this overwhelming craving for a milkshake. This happens frequently because, honestly, I haven’t met a form of ice cream I don’t love. But, what doesn’t happen as...
“I’m proud of you.” Those words have been playing in my head on repeat since Tuesday night. It’s such a simple statement, yet it conveys so much. It’s a sentiment that I never dreamed anyone would say to me, especially during this season...
I have done a lot of things to cope with pain, loneliness, and grief over the past year. However, I think the strangest one by far has been my newfound enjoyment of sports. I spent a fair amount of time watching college football last fall, then did a March Madness...
