Sooner Than Tomorrow

Welcome to my world.My story is written in diary format. I wrote it from June 16, 2013, to June 15, 2014. What I didnt know, as I was writing, was that I was capturing the last year of my sons life. Pat died, unexpectedly, on July 23, 2014, in a hospital psych ward. Suddenly, my diary morphed into a more poignant record than Id anticipated, and after he died, I discovered Pat had been making regular posts on Facebook. I decided to add his comments to my own.I like stories where I can extrapolate from the singular to the universalthat is where I can identify with a common denominator in another persons experience. One early reader of my diary said, Your story is so relatable. Thats what I hope other readers will say.You may relate to my story if:You have a child (chilldren) you love more than your own life.You have a child who suffers from serious mental illness.Youve lost a childno matter what age.Youre a member of the sandwich generation.You treasure conversations with childrenespecially when theyre your grandchildren.Your cat or your dog is in charge of your household.Your bones are beginning to creak.You wake up each morning with a huge hole in your heart but you know, somehow, some way, you have to get up and put one foot in front of the other.You enjoy reading the other side of historyabout ordinary people and their daily lives.You have a sense of humor.Youve been thinking of leaving something for your descendantsa letter, story, diary, song, painting, or poembut you havent gotten around to it. Maybe my diary will spur you on.More notes about the format:Ive added a Before section (Scenes from the Trenches). Going in, I want the reader to know Yes, Houston, we really do have a problem. Ive divided my diary into quartersSummer, Fall, Winter, Spring. I introduce each with a poemthree of them are Pats. I end with an After section I didnt see coming. As I was writing, I had no idea, from day to day, what stories were unfolding. I learn, right along with the reader, what will happen next. Were all on a journey. Thank you for going on this journey with me. DedeDede posted her story in two-week increments at www.soonerthantomorrow.com. The following are readers responses.Beautiful words with an undertone that has caught me . . . carrying me up and down. Such a good writer that I am grateful to be with you. I can borrow some courage here.JanetSo happy for the readers who will discover you.LizDede, every one of your blog posts has a portion that I love so much that I take a screenshot and read it over and over.StaceyDede, I anxiously await each posting from your blog/book. You write with such skill, and not easy when its so personal, but your passion sprinkled with humor are the reasons that this is successful.Joan L.Ive done this, the primal scream and the mother animal instinct. There cant be anything more painful, not even death. My son was a normal little boy and a normal young man until schizophrenia came calling. Now I feel so shattered. I love your diary. J.H.D.I only this was a contrived drama. Its so visceral. Youre an artist.Heidi F.