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| Photo copyrighted Judi Getch Brodman |
I've been away for awhile, I know. In the last blog I wrote about
bittersweet times. Well, this last month has definitely been filled with
bittersweet moments and memories for me.
It actually started a few months ago... my cousin's wife died, a woman who loved life, who had plans for the future, and who we all loved... and then cancer hit. They tried everything and finally the end came, him sitting with her wiping away her tears, both knowing it was too soon, too young, too much of life yet to live. He mourns her greatly as do we all.
And then In January a call came from my high school best friend's husband - she's bad, he says. I knew it was coming but not this soon... too soon for him, her children... too soon for me. And with this damn COVID, no way to say goodbye. We met freshman year and never looked back. Sometimes life became busy, we would lose touch but caught up at Christmas at least. We did everything together as young girls... walking home from a school that was in another town until the bus or my boyfriend came by and picked us up, laughing and never at a loss for words. We double dated, movies, dances, proms. It's so hard to look at those photos of us, so young, so much in love with our boyfriends, so inseparable... so happy. The next day he called, this time to tell me she was gone. I couldn't even go to her funeral... my heart broke.
And then three weeks ago, emails from my cousin that said he had contracted COVID and didn't know if he was going to make it... "pray for me." And so he struggled in the hospital for less than a week, oxygen, ICU, and finally when they wanted to put him on a respirator, he said no. And in days he was gone.
I'm so angry at this virus that has robbed us all of so many, has taken wonderful memories and holidays from us, not allowed us to morn as we want and need to, after it steals our loved ones from us.
I'm sorry that this post has been sad, but it has been cathartic for me to share in writing losses that have happened. As I made it to this point, tears flowed. But sometimes that's necessary, isn't it. Writing is always therapeutic for me. And I know that many of you are suffering the same or worse losses during this time. My love and prayers to all.
And speaking of therapeutic, I've buried myself in my writing and have almost finished the first draft of my next novel. The story took on a life of its own and kept building and building until I'm almost to the end. During the day I write and in the early morning hours, I lie there listening to the characters tell me where today will take them, as always. I'm also making headway on the next "Oyster Point Mystery"; it has Jack and Jamie returning from "She's Not You". Jamie's working two cold cases this time that appear to be leading her into more dire situations. Also, ghosts from both their pasts reappear. Will these ghosts fracture Jack and Jamie's relationship? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Thank you for listening to me as I poured out my heart. Let's make COVID a positive influence for us - keep writing! Write your memoir, a family member's biography or fiction, novels, short stories, or poems... just use this time to write and to provide you with some peace. I pray that these dark COVID clouds are slowly lifting but until they are gone, stay safe and well...
Till, Judi
