Frequently Asked Questions

Marsha’s friends and family members are constantly asking questions about her career change and how she is managing after the tragic death of her son, Douglas. Marsha has but together a FAQ’s page and welcomes additional questions from her readers and friends. She will personally try to answer all questions and add it to the page. So, ask away and see if your question and answer appears here.

Q. Since the death of your son in January 2007, what do you find has given you the most peace in the grieving process?

A.  In January, I decided to resign from my full time job. I was so devastated with my son’s death, I could not function a full day without becoming very emotional and crying. I found that the only way I could calm myself down and get through the next hour was to pray. I used the power of prayer to just take one minute at a time and then one hour at a time. Eventually I got so I had a string of hours before reality hit home again and my devastating loss roared back.

Q. Have you found the grief process difficult?

A. Yes, I have. Before my son died, I had no experience with death and grief. I am blessed to still have my mother and father living. They are both in their eighties and in relatively good health. No member of my immediate family has lost a loved one other than elderly in-laws. My immediate family was devastated when Douglas died and we were all at a loss on how to grieve.

Q. Now that you have experienced grief, do you find the process to be a journey or a process along linear lines?

A.  I find the grief process to be constantly changing for me. I will be having the best of days and then suddenly, something will remind me of my son and I will find myself crying as if he just died yesterday. Sometimes I see other young teenagers that remind me of him in their walk or look and other times it might be a song on the radio. Every time I ride in his white Mustang convertible, I feel his presence. Sometimes I am sad and other times I just want to smile and feel the wind in my hair and know he is there.

Q. How difficult has it been to start a new career later in life?

A.  I have been blessed to have a husband that has encouraged me to write and take as much time as I need to heal my spirit. In addition, we are able to live without a dual income. Don’t get me wrong, we do miss my income but I am becoming the person I always wanted to be and I am happy typing away and creating stories and magazine articles and another novel. I am thankful my previous career required that I write constantly.

Q. How has your relationship with your family changed since the death of your son?

A.  I have grown closer to my husband and son as well as with God. I pray more often and now realize that God has a plan for each of us.  Each person has free will and we must always follow God’s commandments and try to live by the Golden Rule. We as mortal souls, can not see how God’s plan will ultimately work out so all we can do is ask for His guidance, love and grace along the way. I am able to care for Ray and Rob more now because I am not working long hours or have to attend meetings at night. It’s the little things that mean a lot to them and consequently make me happy, too.