MC here!
Here’s a story: I wrote a book about trauma that came out in 2023 called Unbroken. There’s a little bit of my story in there, but it’s mostly the stories of my clients. I was trying to do some marketing for it on TikTok, and someone oh-so-kindly commented, “I bet she doesn’t even know what it’s like to have trauma.”
This episode is for you, dear commenter!
The truth is, I don’t think that any of us make it that far into adulthood without experiencing some kind of trauma (or many kinds of traumas). The sudden loss of my father on Christmas Day in 2005 triggered a cascade of losses that took with it my mother, my childhood home, and the unity that held together my family. There were traumas and losses before that one and there have been traumas and losses since, but that was the one that annihilated the universe, the one that carved time in two - before and after. This episode is about those losses.
Meet Bob & Suzanne:
They got married on May 31st, 1968 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Short Hills New Jersey. Today, Suzanne would be 78 and Bob would be 82 & they would be getting ready to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary.
Here’s Bob & Suzanne circa 2003.
(Just FYI - that is not an orange plastic bowler hat, it is an archway behind him).
Me & Dad at my 10th (?) birthday party. You can tell who the better skater is. He played hockey in college, I was…. ten and wearing a purple faux-tuxedo. Also, if you think I wouldn’t be caught dead in that outfit now, you would be wrong.
And here’s the one and only Christmas photo in it that didn’t have people in it. That’s a lot of presents, but keep in mind there were eight people in the house. Eight. Can you imagine? I still have those glass ornaments and love them.
And last but not least, here I am with our fearless producer Jake, who just so happens to be my younger brother. Hi Jake!!
Want to share your grief stories? Message us here or at keepgriefweird@gmail.com, and tag us @keepgriefweird and use our hashtag- #keepgriefweird on Instagram.
You’ll be able to share your love for your lost loved one there.
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