This is a lightly edited version of a letter I wrote to my family when I was attending a program in Boston called Homebase. I highly recommend it btw. It isn’t meant for light reading and it is about as open and as personal as I’ve ever been in the…
I think it’s time to walk with my demons before I walk with the gods. Beneath the vast, unyielding sky, the horizon where the sea kisses the endless blue, a place where the world narrows to a line. I stand on the edge, the deck beneath my feet, where the…
We said our goodbyes, With a joke and a smile, Never thought it’d be the last, We’d see each other for awhile. I see you in my dreams, Hear your voice in my head, But when I wake up, You’re not here, it’s just emptiness instead I wish I could…
Adrift in the ocean of my emotion, A vessel without a rudder at the waves’ whim. Waves so high they seem to kiss the sky, Drenching from the thrashing waves crashing over my vessel. The vessel, battered with makeshift repairs, Seaworthy, but just. It was once a Ship of…
So, as I’ve decided to write more often, today (or yesterday, I suppose) is as good a day as any to begin. I’m not getting into the “why” details, but as a 100% disabled veteran, I’m not currently working. That’s not my ultimate goal, though. I’m actually going back to…
Introduction In March 2003, at the age of 20, I was deployed on the USS Nimitz as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom with VAW-117. These reflections capture my experiences, thoughts, and emotions during that time and the period following my return to California in November 2003. They are a blend…
I don’t listen to the voices in my head. How can I know if I’m feeling like myself, If I’m unsure who I am? In a world that rushes by, I feel stagnant, watching the seasons flee. I want to live, not just exist. Can I see the light in…
Waking up from a nightmare is difficult, especially when you can’t tell if it’s reality or just another bad dream. It’s unsettling to lie there, unsure if your nightmare was real, if it’s over, or if the thoughts racing through your mind are making things better or worse. I know…
This painting is a deeply personal reflection of my experiences and service in the Navy, created as a form of art therapy to help cope with PTSD. It captures the essence of my time working on aircraft and pays tribute to the squadrons I was stationed with. The process of…
In this painting, I aimed to encapsulate a sense of isolation and depth, reflective of my own experiences with PTSD. The central figure is a lone octopus, painted in stark black, against an expansive blue ocean backdrop. The octopus, with its tentacles outstretched, symbolizes both vulnerability and resilience. It’s a…
