{"id":341,"date":"2012-03-14T01:47:03","date_gmt":"2012-03-14T05:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/?page_id=341"},"modified":"2016-12-11T06:40:45","modified_gmt":"2016-12-11T11:40:45","slug":"ch5-writing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/chapters\/ch5-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"Ch5: Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

www.HoneyIShrunkTheGrief.com<\/span>
\n \u00a9 2012 Eric Vaiksnoras<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have forced myself to begin writing when I’ve been utterly exhausted, when I’ve felt my soul as thin as a playing card … and somehow the activity of writing changes everything.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0~Joyce Carol Oates<\/span>
\n<\/em>.
\n<\/span><\/em>
\nWriting has fueled my soul in so many ways; it has been these hope-filled memoir pages for David to open someday, messages of love to Julie, countless emails and text messages to friends and family, a way for me to connect with this world, and a way for me to connect with myself. To put it simply, writing has been incredibly healing because it has been whatever I needed it to be.<\/p>\n

Over the course of my widowed years, I\u2019ve gained a much deeper appreciation for the power of writing.\u00a0It is a magnificent life raft that I\u2019ve come to rely on.\u00a0In my early days of grieving, I discovered that writing could be a lifeline to Julie.\u00a0I had all this stuff that I needed to say, but no longer had the convenience of communicating it to her at the dinner table or wherever else we happened to be sharing life. The need to find alternative ways to express my thoughts to her was critical to my healing, and I\u2019ve come to find that writing could very much satisfy this need.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to now share two very personal and treasured things that help to express how significant writing has been to me.\u00a0The first is a poem I wrote for Julie shortly after we met.\u00a0This marked the beginning of our love story. I was visiting with family in Florida, hundreds of miles away from her at the time.\u00a0I remember being up alone late one night, feeling so excited to get back home to Cleveland to be next to her.\u00a0I was filled with the sweet magic that comes along with falling in love and had so much on my mind that I needed to say to her but was unable to tell her directly. I had to find another way to express my thoughts\u2014or suffer some kind of horrid lovesick death from implosion!\u00a0On this occasion, that expression came in the form of the following short poem I wrote, while daydreaming about being together again when I returned home\u2026<\/p>\n

.<\/span>
\nAlone at last,<\/span>
\n<\/em>My heart beats for you,
\n<\/em>Your eyes touch my soul,
\nI will never be the same
\n<\/em><\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eric V to Julie S (<\/span>March 1998)<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Those words capture the love I shared with Julie.\u00a0They mark my first written expression to her that was born from the need to be close, at a time when distance had physically separated us.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll jump ahead six years later to another time I used writing to keep from imploding.\u00a0This occasion also marked one of incredible emotions; it involved events surrounding Julie\u2019s burial.<\/p>\n

The funeral director told me I could place a small letter inside the urn with Julie\u2019s ashes, before it was permanently sealed in the mausoleum. In many ways this felt like the last letter I would write to her, so it felt of utmost importance.\u00a0It was written on the morning of her burial, two weeks after her death, and was placed inside her urn.\u00a0I\u2019m able to share it with you now because I made a copy of it to carry in my wallet.
\n.<\/span><\/p>\n

April <\/em>2004<\/em>
\n<\/em>Julie,\u00a0<\/em> <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

You continue to touch my life in the most unbelievable ways. You are the most amazing person. There are no words to express how much I miss you, but I am comforted by the fact that you are in heaven and away from the pain of this world.\u00a0I will not let this temporary separation come between the love that we have.\u00a0I know that our souls will eventually spend eternity together.\u00a0I wish I was with you now, but I have to continue on here and trust in God and the plan that he has for me.\u00a0Julie, you are my light and true love, and I have no doubts in our reuniting.\u00a0Until that time, I will be comforted by everything that you have given me.\u00a0I love you so very much.<\/em> <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Your hubby,<\/span>
\nEric V<\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/em><\/span>\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6
\nWhenever I have something I need to express to Julie, I have found writing to be one of the most reliable and satisfying ways to reach her.
\n\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Now I\u2019d like to share some of Julie\u2019s writings.\u00a0I\u2019m excited to include these in this chapter.\u00a0I see them as fitting because not only are they a powerful illustration of the magic of writing, but I also love the fact that they will give you a personal and direct glimpse of Julie. This feels extra special because within this book I have had the opportunity to speak for her, but now, and even better, I have the chance to allow her to speak for herself. This will come in the form of a collection of written works that was given to David and me from Julie\u2019s coworkers, after she had died.
\n.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>\"\"<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We were given a bound copy of Dialogue Journals<\/em> that Julie kept with each of her third grade students.\u00a0The Dialogue Journals<\/em> activity was a free-writing exercise that served numerous educational purposes\u2014one of the most important being that it allowed Julie to connect with each of her students on an individual level, helping to create a rich and caring classroom environment.<\/p>\n

Each student was given a notebook to write a weekly journal entry in. They were free to write about whatever was of interest to them.\u00a0Julie would then collect the notebook journals and bring them home, so that she could write a response to each student\u2019s entry.<\/p>\n

Here are some entries taken from these 3rd\u00a0grade classroom Dialogue Journals<\/em>:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. V.
\n<\/span>I love school because I get to learn new things.\u00a0 My favorite subject is Science.\u00a0 I herd in middle school or high school you get to diesect a frog.
\n<\/span>Your friend,
\n<\/span>Stacey<\/span><\/p>\n

Stacey,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/em><\/em>I\u2019m glad you like Science best.\u00a0 In the 7th\u00a0grade I dissected a frog and a worm.\u00a0 It was really interesting.\u00a0 In 9th\u00a0grade I had the opportunity to dissect a cat, that was sad!!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs.V<\/em>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. Vaiksnoras,
\n<\/span>On Saturday I had soccer practice.\u00a0 my team played a scrimig\u00a0 it was fun.\u00a0 And I made two rockets.\u00a0 On Sunday I whent to church.\u00a0 Then I whent to a Indians game with my dad.\u00a0 I had a hot dog and a pepsi and candy.\u00a0 The twins won 5 to 2.\u00a0 And we left and lanched two rockets.\u00a0 they went far up.
\n<\/span>Sincerely,
\n<\/span>Shawn<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Shawn,
\n<\/em>Going to the stadium to watch the Indians play is so much fun.\u00a0 I go and enjoy eating a hot dog too.\u00a0 I bet it was exciting to go with your Dad.
\n<\/em>Shawn, I think it would be a great idea to bring in one of your inventions for your turn of Star Student.\u00a0 I bet the class would love to see it.\u00a0 I know I would.
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. Vaiksnoras,<\/span>
\nI had a alltamint weekend.\u00a0 I built my bay blades and I build a fort with my and nobudy knows it is thore.\u00a0 It is made out of bushes by my friend house and it is called spooky shadows club house.\u00a0 we are werking on a fort in my back yard\u00a0\u00a0 it will be so cool I can\u2019t wait till we get it dun.\u00a0 I wunder if I got 100 pesent on the Math test.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Daren,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/em><\/em>Your clubhouse sounds AWESOME<\/span>.\u00a0 I always wanted a fort when I was young.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe you and your friend built it on your own!\u00a0 You did receive an A+\u00a0 99% on your fact test.\u00a0 I\u2019m impressed.\u00a0 You have improved so much.\u00a0 Nice job!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em><\/em>Mrs. V.<\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. V.\u00a0 Thank you for picking me for Zoo Crew it is so much fun.\u00a0 Also thank you for being so nice to me\u00a0\u00a0 and did you know a teacher was never that nice to me before?
\n<\/span>Love,
\n<\/span>Lisa<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Lisa,
\n<\/em>I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed Zoo Crew!\u00a0 I knew you would be perfect for it. \u00a0<\/em>You seem to be feeling more comfortable in school.\u00a0 It\u2019s wonderful to see.\u00a0 I can tell you are beginning to make new friends.\u00a0 You are very kind!
\n<\/em>Have a great weekend!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. Vaiksnoras, my birthday is this Saturday on Octber 18<\/span>th<\/sup> .\u00a0 On my arigale birthday we\u2019re going to Chuckey Cheesis.\u00a0 On the 19<\/span>th<\/sup> of October my mom my aunt and my grandma and I will get together for my birthday.\u00a0 All I really need is close so I guess my Mom is going to get me close.\u00a0 I mite get something else when we go out on Saturday.\u00a0 I get to pick witch restaront we are going to and what stores.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll pick Old Navy for one of the stores.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know witch restaront I\u2019m going to pick.
\n<\/span>your friend,
\n<\/span>Stephanie<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Stephanie,
\n<\/em>Your birthday is almost here!\u00a0 You are lucky that you will be able to pick out stores to go to for new clothes.\u00a0 You also get to pick out the restaurant.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 I love picking where to go to eat.\u00a0 When I was young my mom would make my favorite dinner (lasagna) or I got to pick out the restaurant.\u00a0 I always picked Italian because it was my favorite.\u00a0 Have an awesome birthday weekend!\u00a0 Happy Birthday!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. V.,<\/span>
\nI am so glad you\u2019re my techer.\u00a0 I like you very mutch.\u00a0 And I rilly like your class too and did you know that (at my former school) my class was as nice as your class.\u00a0 the teachers were too.\u00a0 Even the hole school
\n<\/span>Love,
\n<\/span>Lauren<\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren,
\n<\/em>I am happy to hear that you are enjoying our school.\u00a0 I am excited to hear that your whole school was wonderful too.\u00a0 I was thinking that next week you could write a letter to one of your friends there in class.\u00a0 I am sure they would love to hear from you.
\n<\/em>Y<\/em>ou are a special person to be friends with because you are kind, helpful, and truthful.\u00a0 Those are great qualities to have in a friend.
\n<\/em>Have a great weekend!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs.V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. V\u00a0\u00a0 Winter breack was a blast.\u00a0 We went to Virginia.\u00a0 We also went with my cusins.\u00a0 We sall the moutons and the river it was beatuful.\u00a0 have you ben out of Ohio for a trip?\u00a0 I love going on trips\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 after a wiell I get tierd.
\n<\/span>Sinsirly,
\n<\/span>Jordan<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Jordan,
\n<\/em>I have driven through Virginia on my way to Myrtle Beach several times, but I never had the opportunity to enjoy the area.\u00a0 It sounds like you really enjoyed yourself.\u00a0 It is a beautiful state.\u00a0 I have been out of Ohio many times.\u00a0 I love to travel too!! \ud83d\ude42
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. Vaiksnoras,<\/span>
\nyou are the nicest teacher\u00a0 I wish I could have you every year.\u00a0 this is the best year becuse I like 3rd<\/sup> grade.\u00a0 yore nicer then my 2nd<\/sup> grade techer, and shes was pretty nice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Emily,
\nT<\/em>hank you, that was a wonderful compliment.\u00a0 I am very lucky to have such a smart, helpful, and hard working student like you in my class.
\n<\/em>So, what have you enjoyed most since the beginning of the year?\u00a0 There is so much to pick from because everything is so new and exciting!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs.V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. V.,<\/span>
\nHow are you.<\/span>
\nHow old is David.<\/span>
\nCan you move me becouse Joe keeps on bugging me.\u00a0 How many more day until Summer.\u00a0 Are we going to put something else on the boleton board.\u00a0 How many more weeks until A.R is over\u00a0\u00a0 what is the Date for when it is over.\u00a0 Talk to you later\u00a0 BYE.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Evelyn,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/span>
\n Thank you for asking about moving you.\u00a0 It is important to me if you are having trouble concentrating on your work.\u00a0 David is doing wonderful.\u00a0 He started eating cereal this week.\u00a0 That is very exciting!\u00a0 10 AR points are due by March 26th<\/sup>.\u00a0 That is the end of the grading period.
\n<\/em>Have a great weekend!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. Vaiksnoras,<\/span>
\nI had a great weekend.\u00a0 I went shoping.\u00a0 I got a stuffed dalmashun. \u00a0he\u2019s cute and has tons of spots and a red caller.\u00a0 I got him where the Bamerig Diner was.\u00a0 they had a thing alog the sidewalk.\u00a0 There were tons of things.\u00a0 keychains, skiis, gackets, everything you could amgin.\u00a0 The next day I went to my grandmas.\u00a0 she lives next door.\u00a0 we went out to eat at McDonalds.\u00a0 I had a number 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My grandma had a chees\u00a0 buger.
\n<\/span>your friend,
\n<\/span>Samantha<\/span><\/p>\n

Samantha,
\n<\/em>Your dalmatian dog sounds very cute.\u00a0 I think they are beautiful dogs.\u00a0 Every time I see a dalmatian, I think of 101 Dalmatians.\u00a0 That was so good.
\n<\/em>You are lucky to live next door to your grandma.\u00a0 I think I would have been by my grandma\u2019s house everyday if she lived next door to me when I was growing up.\u00a0 I love spending time with her.
\n<\/em>Have a wonderful weekend Samantha!
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. Vaiksnoras,<\/span>
\nI had a great weekend.\u00a0 We cleaned our basement.\u00a0 That was so, so, so, fun.\u00a0 I am sad my mom is going away for a week.\u00a0 I got to drive my dad\u2019s deesll trackter.\u00a0 I allmost ran in to the deck.\u00a0 My brother C.J. was on the back.\u00a0 He made me go very, very fast.\u00a0 I had fun this weekend.
\n<\/span>from
\n<\/span>Hannah<\/span><\/p>\n

Hannah,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0
\nWhere is your mom going for a week? \u00a0Life is different without mom at home isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 I remember when my mom would go away with my sister for ice skating trips.\u00a0 They would be gone for a few days.\u00a0 Life would be different, but it was always exciting to see her when she came home.
\n<\/em>WoW, a tractor ride, how fun!
\n<\/em>Have a great day!,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6<\/p>\n

Dear Mrs. V.<\/span>
\nI miss my dog Sandy.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like it when my mom talks about Sandy.\u00a0 It\u2019s wherd come home and Sandy not being there to greet me.\u00a0 So how is David?\u00a0 My mom babysits so I always see baby.\u00a0 My mom has a new little girl, her name is Ashley.\u00a0 Ashley is attached to me.\u00a0 This is for David.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Jadyn,
\n<\/em>Thank you for David\u2019s valentine.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll love it!
\n<\/em>It is hard and weird when a pet passes away.\u00a0 They become part of the family, so when they\u2019re gone it is different and sad.\u00a0 I remember I felt the same way when my dog died.\u00a0 It was weird not to be able to play with her anymore.
\n<\/em>It sounds like Ashley really likes you.\u00a0 How fun!! \ud83d\ude42
\n<\/em>Sincerely,
\n<\/em>Mrs. V.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6\u00a0 \u25e6
\nHaving Julie\u2019s co-workers give us a copy of this collection meant so much to me. These journal entries provide a unique and permanent glimpse of Julie in all her glory \u2014 lovin\u2019 on others \u2014 in her simple and beautiful way.\u00a0To me, they are a perfect example of an ordinary person living in an extraordinary way \u2014 and a perfect example of the power of writing.<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

~ \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 ~
\nClick here to continue to the next chapter (Chapter 6)<\/a>, but before you go\u2026
\nIf\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0connected with any of the content you\u2019ve just read in Chapter 5, please consider posting a response below to share your valuable thoughts and experiences with others.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Click here to order the newly released full-color paperback version of this book<\/u><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span>
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\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/#!\/EricVaiksnoras<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

www.HoneyIShrunkTheGrief.com \u00a9 2012 Eric Vaiksnoras \u201cI have forced myself to begin writing when I’ve been utterly exhausted, when I’ve felt my soul as thin as a playing card … and somehow the activity of writing changes everything.\u201d\u00a0~Joyce Carol Oates . … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":219,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"sidebar-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-341","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=341"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1639,"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/341\/revisions\/1639"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.honeyishrunkthegrief.com\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}