Living and Loving in the Shadow of The Valley: Reflections on life and love, death and grief, hope and rebirth

Some would describe our relationship as a match made in heaven. We met by fluke, fell madly in love, married, and shared fifty-three years of life together. She died on December 31st, 2022 of liver cancer. This memoir represents a deeply profound reflection on my life prior to our joining of hands in matrimony, to the moment when my wife died, and how her death impacted on my very existence. Join with us as we move from love at first sight, to my experiences with death as I grew to adulthood and then served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. There are skeptics who profess that "true love" does not exist. This work defies such assertions. Following her death, my world literally fell apart as I struggled with deep grief. I will describe, in graphic detail, my reaction to her death and, at the same time, tell you of our love which spanned over five decades. You will gain an understanding of love and deep grief. Hopefully you will be comforted. This is my gift to you.