A Parent`S Journey into Darkness: In Loving Tribute to Our Son, Eric

By Frank Caldwell

When a father is robbed of his only child in a terrible auto accident, words seem to flow in this truly inspirational journal. Frank Caldwell shares not only his intense sorrow, but also his decisions to survive his grief while creating some way to touch others in honor of his son.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463400781

Frank Caldwell

Frank Caldwell as an author? That would be funny if it was not for the subject matter. I`m just a grieving father who lost his only child in the blink of an eye. After the shock of losing my son I could have either climbed in a hole or done something to honor Eric`s memory. This book is my "Journey Into Darkness" and the strength I have found trying to get up ever morning and to move on. If it gives peace or inspiration to one other parent who has started down this dark road then I have accomplished my goal. Connie and I are proud to still live in "Small Town USA ", Alexandria , Indiana.

Book preview

A PARENT’S JOURNEY

INTO DARKNESS

In Loving Tribute to Our Son, Eric

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BY

FRANK CALDWELL

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 by Frank Caldwell. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 05/25/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0080-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0078-1 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011908270

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

EPILOGUE

MADISON COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HOUSE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My life, with the exception of a few minor glitches, had always been great. Married to my best friend for over 40 years, a wonderful son, a professional career that gave me much satisfaction, and many good friends.

A phone call on April 20, 2010, changed all that.

To Eric, I hope to Hell this gets easier as time goes by. You are in my thoughts every minute at times, and then reality of everyday life keeps me busy doing other things, but not for long. I know you remember me transferring old film to disk of your very early life a couple of years ago, and we all had a great laugh watching these. We were able to revisit you lying on the floor fighting to roll over for the first time, and then you leaving the safety of holding onto the sofa to take your very first steps. I want to look at these fond memories so badly, but the pain would be too much to bear. I’m just not sure I will ever be able to look at this part of our lives again. The first anniversary of you leaving us is nearing, and we want to make you proud of the fact that we are trying to move on. Whoever made the statement, Take one day at a time, knew there were never more accurate words to describe our current life without you.

There is no "how to handbook or blueprint" for dealing with the loss of your child and getting through this tragedy. My purpose when I started this journal was to try to find some form of peace for myself. This purpose changed somewhat with the conversations I had with people who had gone down this dark path before me. Hopefully, parents will find some satisfaction in reading that perhaps there is a small beacon in the darkness.

Although we knew there was no cure all, I knew I had the choice of crawling into a hole or finding something to honor our son, Eric’s, life. My wife, Connie, and I chose the latter.

Most people think they have friends. You really have no idea what true friends are until you need them. So many people to thank; it is endless. My special thanks to Patty, who never laughs at my high school education mentality when I write down my thoughts, and she does her thing so people can make sense of it. To Skip, Betty, Tim, and You Know Who You Are, thanks for everything.

Frank

FOREWORD

What can you say to ease the pain when dear friends lose a loved one?

What can you say to ease that pain if the death is sudden?

And, worst of all, what can you say to ease that pain if the death is of a child, an only child, who was lost suddenly, tragically?

In an instant, the world has stopped; there is an upheaval, and life will never be the same. Your friends become members of the Walking Wounded, those who would give all they own, even their own lives, to bring back their child for just one day, just one hour, just one more hug, just one more I love you.

Frank and Connie Caldwell have