Love, Grief -- Grief, Love

Everyone experiences grief, each in our own way.

This blog, in many ways, is intended as a manifestation of love in the face of grief -- love that was, love that is, love that will forever be, love that even death cannot vanquish.

In my foundest hopes, this blog will, from time to time, provide solace to someone enduring grief if only from the perspective that they are not alone. In that context, I just read (in a single sitting) a recently released book on grief and love entitled Kayak Morning in which the author recounts his personal meditations on grief several years after the death of his adult daughter. While much more erudite than this blog, the essence of this book nonetheless encapsulates the blog's objective when it ends with a definition:

Grief.  The State of mind brought about when love, having lost to death, learns to breathe beside it.  See also love.

If so inclined, have a read.  I'll lend you the book

Father/Son Memory Immortalized

Recall this earlier post from almost two years ago which captured a father/son memory just several weeks before John died.  As recounted in that post, "while waiting at the bar for a table, father and son got a good laugh about the recent efforts of then Vice President Dick Cheney's office to abolish John's Dad's official position and his entire organization -- events that would become public several months later."

In some regards, the web is ephemeral.  Only just realizing that some of the public references to that Leonard/Cheney encounter were still available on the Internet, below is a link that gives a spot-on synopsis of what the incident was about and also confirmed for John's dad that when his work became fodder for late-night comedy, it was time to retire from the Federal government.

The Colbert Report
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Additional insights into this memory can be found at this link as well as below.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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As always, thanks for the fond memories, JW. We had a good laugh that night.  Little did we know that what we were talking about and sharing just among ourseleves that evening would become a topic for some of your favorite TV shows!

John's Fund Continues to Grow

Thanks to a very generous donation from John's Aunt Susie and Uncle John, as well as his brother Mike's loving decision to ask that his Christmas gift this year be a donation to John's memorial fund, the fund has now reached almost 90% of its goal.  As a reminder, the purpose of this fund to support the upcoming World Assembly in Lima, Peru this October of the World Movement for Democracy, a global network of democrats, including activists, practitioners, academics, policy makers, and funders, who have come together to cooperate in the promotion of democracy. More details on JW's fund can be found at this link.

Latest Additions to John's Room

Sincere thanks to John's good friends, Cate and Greg, who on a recent trip to Ireland picked up the latest additions to John's Room, some Guinness pub coasters and, most special of all, a Guinness rugby ball!  Just imagine what the first scrum will be like at the next JW Kickball and Kegger fest.

The above were presented to John's mom & dad this past Christmas.  They are sincerely grateful to the goodness and friendship that helps perpetuate John's love of friends and family.

And by the way, mark your calendars now for the next great event on June 23, 2012!