In the Sea of Grief and Love

By Susan Cochran

The sudden loss of a loved one is shattering. Susan Cochran’s small creative book, In the Sea of Grief and Love, takes us through her grief journey; from the early days of numb disbelief to creating a life full of healing, acceptance, gratitude, and possibilities. Grief will be a part of her life but the sweet memories and an open heart have tipped the scales. Ms. Cochran’s poems, short stories, letters and essays reveal the wide range of emotions that occurred and inspire us to tell a new story and live fully from that experience. Her poetry has been used to help those healing from loss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483595818

Book preview

In the Sea of Grief and Love

Copyright © 2017 by Susan Cochran. All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-48359-580-1 (print)

ISBN: 978-1-48359-581-8 (ebook)

Wow! She really gets it! is the response most of my clients give after I read them any of Susan’s poems. She understands the depth of grief and expresses it in a way that hits the bullseye to the heart. Her poems help you to know that you are not alone in this difficult journey - Susan is right there with you."

Mary Ransom, MFT

Retired Hospice of Santa Barbara therapist,

author of Courage Road -Your Guide from Grief to Hope

From the depth of love, loss and despair to the hilarity of a new widow’s dating profile, Susan Cochran’s poetry speaks the full spectrum of emotions and she manages to inject it with her wonderful humor. Thanks for helping us laugh through the tears!

Mindy Steward

Founder of Life Design-For grief through growth; building and living the new dream; WE THRIVE-Widow’s Education and Mentoring Programs; and GROW-Grief Recovery Organization Worldwide 

In Memory of Jim

Thank you

for the gifts of your

love and laughter.

Table of Contents

Cover

Title

Copyright

Introduction

Drowning

Grief

Unfamiliar Life

Unbalanced

August 1, 2010

Breathe

Suspended

Starved

Shattered Heart

Contents in His Snow Boarding Jacket

Fog of Sorrow

Gifts Wrapped In Shrouds

Year of Blindness

Unsettled

Here

Innocent Me

October 20, 2010

Drifting

Another Year Without You

Fade

The Wedding at the Santa Barbara Zoo

You Bastard

Profile or Let’s Meet For a Cup of Crazy

August 10, 2012

Day of the Dead

33rd Anniversary

Holiday Table

Saint Barbara

The Garden Party

Constant Companion

October 12, 2012

Reaching Shore

Different

Shift

Parallel Universes

I’m Alice

Waves of Life

February 14, 2014

Journey

From the Bridge

This Moment

Home Inside

My Dream of You

Dear Jim

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Jim died suddenly on July 4, 2010. At 59, he was strong, healthy and active. A software engineer, he worked hard but enjoyed biking and swimming with colleagues on lunch hours. Weekends were filled with challenging bike rides into the foothills of Santa Barbara and long urban or beach walks with me.

We’d been looking forward to the three-day 4th of July holiday. We met after work on Friday for drinks and dinner and planned the weekend. Triathlon team practice for me on Saturday morning and a dinner party at friend’s house that evening. Sunday morning Jim would bike with a friend, then a BBQ at our house, followed by a walk to the beach to watch fireworks. On Monday we’d leisurely bike down the coast to a favorite