All I Would have Missed


I still drive by the street where the cop protected our life on that Saturday. While everyone else will remember it as the day my father died, I have considered every time I drive by Beech Street how things would have been so different had we been killed that day.

Since this will be the last official post for this blog, it seemed appropriate to finish with the highlights of the last year. I have often wondered why I was still here, and instead, I look back on all I would have missed:

My daughter's 18th birthday.
Great books from my Cali cousin,
Reconnecting with my cousin Karen
Co-writing a play Elyce Times One, that placed in the 100 of Writer's Digest Wrting Contest
The reading of that play with the best local actors of our city
A laptop gift
Writing book reviews /getting books and meeting delightful people
New On Line friends: Roberto, Kathy, Greg
Starting a writer's group
My daughter in her senior year, as a full time student
  • getting her temps,

  • and getting accepted to culinary school

The new friendships formed among writers I respect and enjoy
Friends who have seen, heard read me when I was being a jerk, but love me anyway.
Seeing all my siblings in one spot five years after the 1st time in 17 years
Meeting my first born daughter's adoptive mom
The memory box of military memorabilia Mary Lou is putting together,
  • and all the lunches we had together as a result of it.
The first, second and third glossy magazine publishings
My sister's book being published and coming in 2nd place
Winning first place in one category of a writing contest

The long awaited return of my sainted brother
The love of family and friends
A beautiful flower arrangements for Valentines day of 09 (above)
The Jesus blanket sent to me from the church
The finishing of my second screenplay
One of the most speacial Christmas seasons in a long time with many friends,
  • and some different but very cool family
These aren't in the order of their occurence and there are more things. Just because they aren't in the forefront of my mind doesn't mean they aren't important. Things jump out all the time and make me smile. You are one of them, trust me.

I am glad to still be here.
I hope this year is even better than last, but it has been real, hasn't it?
I'll still be posting on The Radical Write. Have a wonderful life.