Author Archives: jghickey

As Christmas 1977 approached, all I really wanted was for Funky to come home. And I let everyone know it. My wish was expressed in the whining tones typical of a six-year old. I want Funky. I waaaaant Funky. Given … Continue reading →

Three dinner plates on the tablecloth. Three wine glasses filled three-quarters to the brim. Three napkins folded atop the salad plates. A complete holiday table set. Except for the four chairs, which since 1978 have symbolized the reality that the holiday is not quite complete. … Continue reading →

It was a huge vase. A vase so huge, in fact, that it could fit a bouquet of flowers and a family of midgets in it with room to spare. For years, it also had been an unremarkable vase, one which I had passed … Continue reading →

For one reason or another, I decided to take an item off my bucket list and proceeded to register for the Marine Corps Marathon in 2012. Many things about the race were memorable. The nerves of a first-timer. The thrill … Continue reading →

The silver lining was never more obvious to me than while watching last night’s 60 Minutes story on end of life decisions. The piece centered around assisted suicide and whether it should be legal or not. Throughout the report I … Continue reading →

At the edge of my bed I sat. And sat. I do not remember for how long I remained there looking at the fireplace. I do remember feeling uncertain and unsure. I sat there because I did not know what else … Continue reading →

Sometimes it helps to get things off one’s chest. So, here goes. I once wrote a letter to Madonna. The letter did not ramble on about how I preferred her first album to Like A Virgin. Nor did I describe … Continue reading →

“One day I will tell you how much it means to me, but not today. Not today.” I called my mom on Sunday to make sure the flowers I sent for her 51st wedding anniversary had arrived. Not today. It … Continue reading →

For several weeks, I had feared the future. Okay, I was not fearing the future as much as I was scared bleepless by it. For several weeks, I repeatedly asked myself why I clicked the register button for the Denver Marathon. I am … Continue reading → Continue reading →

There was nothing memorable about the day. It was not an anniversary. I had not had a recent conversation about my dad. Frankly, it was a Sunday and my brain was slowly moving out of its Sunday morning political talk show hangover … Continue reading →