Grief on Harry's Ruminations

Friday at Work

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:34:06 -0500

“You know, you could take some time off”

“Yeah, but I know myself well enough to know I won’t.”

I awoke this morning knowing I had to make it to work for a 9:30 meeting…in a former life that’d be laughably late, but now it’s early. Maybe I’ve finally become institutionalized to Austin’s “10am at the earliest” culture, or maybe it’s the 45 to 60-minute drive, or just simple burnout. Since we returned to office 5 days per week this year, it’s just been a grind. Having the flexibility to work-from-home even 1 day a week helped. Now: This is life.

Thus Ends Joe

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:52:22 -0500

Our last bunny, Joe, died suddenly today. He was about 8 years old.

As we were preparing to walk out the door, I went in to feed Joe his morning pellets as usual and he was sitting in his hutch flaring his nostrils and biting at the air. It seeme like he was struggling to breathe. Well, that’s not good, I thought.

Grace came in and picked him up, taking him to Whitney but he seemed desperate to get out of her arms. Looking back on it, I suppose he was smothering. He bounded down onto the kitchen table and hopped a few times. Then Grace picked him up again.

On Feeling Again

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 17:30:56 -0500

Nine months is a long time–Plenty of time for a baby to be born, or for a cow to birth a calf. Enough time for a madman to be well on his way to dismantling the American Republic.

In my case it took nine months for me to feel…anything about Mom dying. I couldn’t call her “Mom” even. Every discussion was “my mother,” or “my mom.” Somehow this arms-length feeling helped me not feel. I desperately needed to avoid feeling.

California Grievin'

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:23:45 -0600

All the Leaves are Brown
And the sky is grey
I’ve been for a walk
On a Winter’s Day

My college roommate Chris died last week. He was 46 years old, the same age as me. I have no idea what he died of. I was a groomsman in his first wedding in Orlando, Florida, though I don’t remember what year that was–early 2000’s likely 2001-2002. Chris was a guest at my own wedding in 2005, and likely would’ve been a groomsman if it was a larger affair. Chris & Jessica stayed in contact with Whitney and myself until they divorced, though again I don’t remember when that was…the latter part of the 2000’s.

A Word About Dannah

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 17:09:00 -0400

My friend Dannah (Russell) Jones died this past Friday morning, after collapsing following exercise the night before. She was thirty-eight years old.

I met Dannah when we were freshmen at Georgetown College in 1997. She was a self-proclaimed “military brat” lately of Dayton, Ohio. She had a spark of life, humor, and intelligence. She made some friends, but she wasn’t a “joiner.” If Dannah didn’t like you, you’d know about it.