
Arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada after my stay in the frigid, Arctic wastelands of Michigan was a relief. Cutting what should’ve been a three-day trip down to a two-day, cross-country blitz was even more amazing. All credit for safely traveling, past purchasing the vehicle, goes to the woman who accompanied…

Separations in relationships are never easy. Duration of time spent becomes irrelevant. Attributed instances of forgiveness are suddenly & conveniently forgotten. Efforts spent upholding trust & faith become instantaneously irrelevant. Everything contributed to fortifying meaningful moments becomes ammunition for insults, insecurities & bad memories… as inconsiderately & inconveniently abruptly as possible.

I thought I knew disappointment after watching my role-model parent pass away so early in life. I knew nothing near what the full extent of it would bring. Hell, I had a relationship to “recover from,” and suddenly, my “OWN kid” to support. All at once, mom was…

Altogether, my two year run in Nevada, from northern to southern, was a blast throughout. Granted, I did take a 3-month “break” from residency within their hellacious atmosphere & terrain. Even then, the only “break” I got the entire time I was there came at the end of my stay…

As life’s curveballs came harder & faster throughout life’s progression, friends would line-up to assure me they’d “always be there.” …… and yet, come “D-Day,” phone lines sat silent, and parental influence was null & void entirely. Hell, if anything, Mom was as “suddenly stricken” by her husband “magically dropping dead” as everyone…