The Roof Above

When your life is shattered, the shock immobilizes you until, at some point, you slowly begin to pick up the pieces. It’s been over three months since our lives were shattered, and I’m trying to pick up the pieces, but I find myself leaving some scattered. I’m only picking up the important ones. Tragedy shifts priorities.  

    Friends have asked, “Will your book still be released?”

    Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it. I haven’t thought much about anything at all. I knew the publication date would not be the day of celebration, pride, and gratitude that it’s supposed to be. Tragedy, we have learned, stifles happiness.

But I also knew the reason I wrote the book — to pay tribute to military spouses — hadn’t changed in the past three months.

For forty-plus years, I watched Army spouses uproot themselves and their families every two to three years, leave their jobs and their friends behind, and move across the country, or the world, to a house that didn’t have enough bedrooms. I watched these spouses juggle their careers or give them up entirely. I watched them coach soccer teams, quiz spelling words, and deliver soup to sick neighbors. I watched them hug their soldier goodbye and cry in the car alone as he walked away. I felt compelled to write their story. I had to write THE ROOF ABOVE.

If I’d written this book after November 10, perhaps it would have come closer to capturing the ultimate sacrifice, the one that shatters your life into a million pieces. But I wrote it years ago — before our lives were shattered. Our tragedy has changed us, but my purpose in writing this story has only been reinforced. Now, more than ever, recognition of the selfless service of military spouses is so important to me. This is a piece of me that cannot remain scattered.

         So, yes, though I’m leaving lots of scattered pieces, I’m picking this one up. On February 15th, THE ROOF ABOVE will be published. I’m grateful to all who have helped make this possible. And I hope you enjoy my story.