Today marks the 8-year anniversary of my son’s suicide. Julian was 20 years young when he died. This story is dedicated to him, and everyone
Tag: Julian Rettger
I Remember You
I don’t remember what your favorite color was. I don’t know that I ever knew. But I do remember the day we shared raspberry popsicles that
An (Un)Easy Solution
I remember the call from my son’s therapist. Julian had recently turned 19, and had been in residential psychiatric treatment for a month. His therapist
To The Parents Embarking On Their Journey Into Grief
Recently, someone asked me how grieving my son is different now (four and a half years later) than it was during the first year he
There You Are
That boy holding the door for his mom, the kid waiting in line at Starbuck’s, the teen weaving his bike through traffic, the man leaning
No Words
There are words for those whose spouses die: “widows” and “widowers.” There is a word for children, even adult children, whose parents die: “orphans.” Although
