Author Archives: marlakanepolk

When we are in love on Valentine’s Day, then all is right with the world.  I have had some incredible Valentine’s Days.  There were many cards and flowers and, they were always left on the table so when I woke up and went into the kitchen for coffee,  I would see them first thing.  TheseContinue reading “Valentine’s Day After Loss”

I wanted to write an uplifting, heartfelt Thanksgiving story, but instead, the overwhelming message that I can’t seem to get out of my head is to tell you, my friends, to enjoy and love where you are without judgment. This year has divided so many of us, and it does not have to be likeContinue reading “A Covid Thanksgiving”

Happy Birthday, Randy. I chose November 15 to release “Grief Survivor, a Love Story” because November 15 would have been Randy’s 61st birthday. I would have teased him about how old he was. He was four and a half years older than me, and I never let him forget it. I would have given himContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Randy”

Randy Polk joined the Air Force in 1989 on a whim. Top Gun had just come out, and he thought it looked like a great adventure to become a pilot. Unfortunately, or fortunately, he was talked into joining the Medical service corps and had many years of service as a medical administrative officer. He wasContinue reading “Happy Veteran’s Day”

I did not intend to write a book or a song. In August of 2019, I went to a remote cabin in New Mexico and unplugged to compile all my journals and notes and stories about Randy. I intended to make a book of short stories to give to my kids for Christmas. However, onlyContinue reading ““Thank You for Loving Her””

     According to biblical tradition, seven years is a Jubilee year, the year when slaves and prisoners would be freed and debts would be forgiven. I have wondered if I would feel a new sense of freedom from my grief now that seven years have gone by. I did not wake up feeling lighter like IContinue reading “7 Years”

“Being there with all those college kids and seeing all their idealism and young love made me think of Randy and how we met, when we were in college. It was September 1982. He was wearing a T-shirt and gold, very short, polyester gym shorts. There is no other way to put it but toContinue reading “Meeting Randy”

Seven years ago, the unimaginable happened. Randy Polk passed away, died, was gone from this life at 53 years old. The night he died, I wrote my first personal story notifying everyone via Facebook. Hundreds of caring comments came back, all with heartfelt condolences. Some people reminded me of stories about Randy, and some assuredContinue reading “Grief Survivor Available November 15th.”