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Oct 19 2006
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I wrote the following poem in West Virginia on the first anniversary of Donna’s death. Later in this volume I explain how time began to lose its “timeliness” in that it was difficult to believe that my friend had left a year earlier. “Cherry Blossoms” The cherry blossoms Since you departed
I remember last year, The blossoms –
Perhaps in my sorrow – As a sign for us
This year in joy the blossoms Just below the surface |
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Oct 19 2006
Foreword
I lost Donna, my spouse of 39 years, when a car struck her as she walked across the street holding my son Christopher’s hand. They were on their way to his First Holy Reconciliation, a preparatory rite in the Catholic Church before he received Holy Communion, days before Passion Sunday. They were 60 feet from the main entrance of the church.
I have written this book to share my journey in dealing with grief for those who have lost someone – spouse, child, parent, or friend – in the hope that some of what I learned will help to ease or facilitate the reader’s healing and return to emotional stability. Though I contributed to the raising of four girls and lived with Donna for so long, I make no claim to understanding yet my feminine counter-part. So I would not be surprised if what I have to say resonates with men who might have more difficulty expressing, even discovering the depth of their emotions.
Recently, I attended a fifty year high school reunion. One of my classmates announced the title of my recently published book of poetry – Searching Sand Crabs In The Dark saying that there were not many former CIA case officers who write poetry. Poetry is a way for me to access the deepest recesses of my heart. So in the pages that follow, in addition to the rules, the reader will find my poetry, readings from the masters that I have come upon, and personal reflections, insights, and observations related to loss and rejection, as well as exercises after each Rule. My suggestion is that the reader record and date his/her thoughts in the blank pages provided following each exercise.
Terry Douglas
Sandbridge, Virginia
September 1, 2006
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