Brave Heart, Brave Soul. She who is brave is free.

My dad turned 80 in July. I didn’t really grasp his age until the moment we all shouted “surprise” ! I understood 80 was coming, I had been planning his party for 6 months. But knowing and processing are two different things. My dad’s my hero. He’s kind and caring, forgiving and generous, compassionate, loving and forgiving. Plus he always has a bit of mischief in his eyes along with a contagious laugh hiding behind his smile. My dad’s humor is wicked and his stories, well, they’re hysterical. My dad can be humble and stubborn at the same time. Don’t get me wrong. He’s as human as they come. Dad gets grumpy sometimes, just like and gets stuck in his ways once and awhile. He’s not perfect, but he’s a good, honest man. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t sacrifice for his family.  When I was little, time didn’t seem like a foe. I was a child. In my little mind I had no doubt my dad would always catch me. But time waits for no one. So, when 80 came and went I pretty much tripped over my ...

  Son,  I'm not sure what's happened. But I think it started a long time ago. Maybe it was the TBI, maybe we weren't listening like we should have, or maybe it was just the road you were meant to take. Whatever got us here, had a purpose. I'm still trying to figure that one out, but what I know is you've become your own man. A man we're proud of. You're making your dreams a reality and that is pretty amazing.   I can say I'm sorry. I can ask forgiveness. But I can't go back and undo the past. All I can do is tell you I love you; we love you and we miss you. I'm your mom, I won't stop trying, just as I know you won't stop pushing us away. Maybe one day we'll meet up somewhere and start fresh. Maybe you'll fill us in on how you're doing and what's happening in your life. Maybe one day I'll get to see you smile and hear your laughter again, maybe one day you'll hug me again. Maybe...one day. But you know what? I'...

  There are times in life when nothing goes right. I mean absolutely nothing! For one reason or another everything is out of sync. We might know why, or none of it makes sense at all.  Confusion usually follows. Sadness and depression typically creep in at some point. Anxiety is a given and anger eventually makes its rounds too. So, what comes next? How do we turn things right side up once they’ve flipped upside down?  I have no idea, to be perfectly honest with you.. There’s no magic answer or trick to it. Sometimes you’ve just gotta go through hell and keep going till you reach the other side. It’s not a simple answer. It's simply the truth.   Why do I say this? Well, because I’ve spent a lot of time there myself recently. Let me just say it now, it's not fun. Nothing about being out of sync is amusing or a beer and skittles moment. It's downright miserable and uncomfortable really. When life gets all knotted up and the worms are out of the can, things can get...