We Are in This Together: Reflections on the Dramas of Life

By R. L. Stark

We are born, and we die. In between, during our allotted brief time on this planet, we strive to make sense of our world, seeking answers to universal questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is the meaning and purpose of life? As we ponder the answers, we yearn for love, for friendship, and to be happy. WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER is a collection of eight beautifully articulated vignettes in which the author shares personal experiences from his own lifes journey.

From the sadness of his fathers passing to the discovery of a lifelong friend while hitchhiking, he captures the emotions that bring such singular, meaningful experiences to life. Through his eyes, we learn of the three gifts a mother bestows to her children, to be found under the tree each Christmas; of the parental concern he and his wife experience during their Army sons tour of duty in Iraq; and of the memories created with siblings during an adventure home to Wisconsin with his daughter. Also through his eyes, we experience once again the unforgettable unfolding of the attack, and aftermath, of 9/11; we take an insightful look at the Preamble to our Constitution, with an objective observation that should deeply concern every American; and lastly, we journey back in time to experience a meeting of the author with his younger self, and we learn of the message he takes back with him to share with that person.

In this collection, the author has created loving and enduring tributes to the dearest people and most significant events of his life; tributes to which we can also relate, that touch the heart and speak to the soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491750537

R. L. Stark

Richard Stark is a Wisconsin native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is a ten-year Navy veteran and former legislative intern in the office of then Wisconsin Representative, and later Senator, Dale Schultz. He and his wife, Marcy, have three children —a son, Robin, and two daughters, Lianne and Alexandra—and live in northern Virginia, near Washington DC.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 R. L. Stark.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

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.

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.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-5051-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-5052-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-5053-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014918524

iUniverse rev. date: 10/20/2014

Bible verse [James 5:12] at the conclusion of A Father’s Legacy is from the New Revised Standard Version

Contents

Introduction

Group I

Family and Friendship

A Father’s Legacy

An Army of One

The Treasure of a Friend

A Mother’s Gifts

A Wisconsin Adventure

Group II

Citizenship and Country

Day of Infamy September 11, 2001

We the People

Group III

Experience and Perspective

A Journey in Time

Postscript

Notes

To my mother and father

Introduction

Dear Reader,

These vignettes, or brief stories, were originally sent to family and friends at Christmastime—one annually, beginning in 2006, the year my father passed away.

Each vignette concerns a significant personal event or experience—my father’s passing; our son’s first deployment to Iraq; the loss of a lifelong friend; the subsequent loss of my mother; a visit with siblings; the anniversary of 9/11; a fortieth high school reunion; and an observation regarding our US Constitution—which others may relate to also. That is to say, each has a universal theme.

Except for the first vignette, regarding the death of my father, each begins with a question. The question alludes to the universal theme.

The universal themes are in three groups, and the stories appear chronologically, with the exception of A Journey in Time.

I hope you enjoy the stories.

R.L. Stark

September 2014

Group I

Family and Friendship

This fast-paced society of ours offers many fleeting attractions. There is not much, it seems, that is permanent—but family endures. That is to say, our relationships, with our loved ones and friends, are what matter in the end and what we come back to.

—From A Father’s Legacy

***

But how fortunate to have had such a once-in-a-lifetime comrade and confidant in a fellow human being. What a treasure it has fashioned. What a storehouse of memories remain. What a blessing to have known such enduring qualities of true friendship—in a world that can be fickle and harsh.

—From The Treasure of a Friend

A Father’s Legacy

Friday, November 17, 2006

To: Cheri, Walt, Mike, Sharon, Maria, Diane, Craig, Antonio, Ava, Samantha, Carolyn, and Kari-Lyn; and Mahdi; and Matt and Mamie, Scott and Jodi, Don and Cindy, Bill and Patty, John and Marianne, Bob and Linda, Doug and Jackie, Bill and Judy, Larry and Carole, and Bob and Betsy; and Chip and Tess, Bill and Iris, and Dave and Anna

Subject: Thank you

Dear Shipmates (or as Craig aptly put it recently in an e-mail—Shiftmates):

Thank you each for your condolences regarding my father’s passing on Wednesday. For what it’s worth, here are a few thoughts so far. For those of you who have had a similar occurrence in your lives, perhaps we can compare notes.

My first impression: A degree of shock—like being pushed into a swimming pool unexpectedly. One’s life has changed, and behold, the great mystery—death—presents itself. It’s an in-your-face kind of thing.

The next morning: It appears to be just another day. The earth turns, impassively, the weather is unconcerned. The trees, the surroundings, all the same. It becomes oddly apparent—life simply, indifferently, goes on.

Now ahead is the funeral, on Monday. It certainly will be peculiar to see my father lying in a casket. In September my folks celebrated their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. I will be wondering what thoughts are going