It’s 7:00 AM on a Sunday. We wait on a barren stretch of US-90, just east of Macclenny, Florida. A cold, drizzly rain numbs our fingers as we shiver Continue Reading
death
Breathe
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.Training takes over, I need gloves!Where the fuck are my gloves??Hands slippery with sweat struggle to put them on,Too hard, Continue Reading
The Weight of Time and the Will to Wander
I am wildly fascinated with the concept of time travel. Avoiding the paradoxes my journey through time and space may cause, I often wonder what it Continue Reading
When He Said We’d Be Angels
Asher was restless last night. He woke me up four times: at 9:00 PM, at midnight, at 3:00 AM, and at 4:00 AM. Twice, he asked me to get up and give Continue Reading
Bittersweet Season: Death and Resurrection
Flowers are blooming, and buds are emerging from tree branches. In Ohio, that means it’s below freezing at night and somewhere between last winter and Continue Reading
By, With, and Through
I have a deal with my deceased son, Quint. OK, maybe it is a one-sided bargain since his assent has not been verbally received. Nor have I shaken Continue Reading
The Taste of Those Lost
I grabbed the corner of the headboard. I echoed the mantra that it was in front of me. I fought the spins the best I knew how--anchoring myself Continue Reading
All Those Crosses
All those white crosses stand in a rowon nameless hills in Europe,in fields of France,on beaches too.All those white stones stand in a rowon the green Continue Reading
Even Unto Death: A Father’s Journey Through Pride, Grief, and Purpose
"Dad, moment of truth, I've enlisted in the Army." I was proud. I was scared. Was this karma? After all, I had spent 15 years as a recruiter for Continue Reading
The Deadliest Day of Operation Iraqi Freedom
by Charlie Moose In late January of 2005, the Lava Dawgs had just left the city of Fallujah after 75 days of some of the most intense, offensive Continue Reading
Have Mercy
Sometimes, I have to hurt my terminally ill and physically disabled son to help him. Invasive procedures that make him cry may be necessary to prolong Continue Reading
How Do I Survive Outliving My Child?
As the convoy rolled toward the village, we knew what was waiting for us. I closed my eyes and prayed for the best possible outcome. "There’s no Continue Reading