J. Delaney-Howe
Bio
Bipolar poet. Father. Grandfather. Husband. Gay man. I write poetry, prose, some fiction and a good bit about family. Thank you for stopping by.
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Stories (98/0)
My Past Year on Vocal and a New Plan
From the end of 2022 through 2023, I didn't write much. I lost my mom in February of 2023 after a battle with brain cancer. From September 2022 until she passed, my sister and I were her caregivers. That didn't leave much time for writing, though I did write a couple of pieces for my mother. After her death, I struggled with not having a purpose, as I no longer had anyone to care for. I fell into a deep, long-lasting depression. My auntie, who was a rock in our family, passed in December, a few days before Christmas. Grief has no specific time or place and pops up now and then, but going into this year, I am choosing not to sit in my sadness from now on. I believe while our emotions can't be chosen, how much room we give our emotions is what we can control. So, while last year was a bust, I intend to make up for it this year. This challenge piece is the road map for my next year on Vocal.
By J. Delaney-Howe3 months ago in Journal
Battle of the Bulge
I am a big guy. I have been a husky guy since high school. A comfortable weight for me is in the two-twenty range. I am five feet eleven inches tall and currently weigh three hundred and ten pounds. I have gained eighty-plus pounds over the last three years.
By J. Delaney-Howe6 months ago in Longevity
- Top Story - August 2023
The Facebook Group Vocal + AssistTop Story - August 2023
Many of us creators on Vocal Media belong to many Facebook groups for Vocal Media. While it is important to remember that Vocal does not run any of these groups, they play a crucial role in building community, sharing our work, and acquiring some reads. While there are several groups out there, I would like to highlight the group Vocal + Assist for this article.
By J. Delaney-Howe8 months ago in Journal
Partners In Writing
I first learned about Vocal Media two years ago, when one of my friends sent me a post on Facebook about a writing contest. I joined, submitted an entry, and was hooked from the start. It wasn’t long before I found a couple of Facebook groups dedicated to Vocal Media creators.
By J. Delaney-Howe9 months ago in Motivation
- Top Story - July 2023
Good Grief Part OneTop Story - July 2023
“The weird, weird thing about devastating loss is that life actually goes on. When you're faced with a tragedy, a loss so huge that you have no idea how you can live through it, somehow, the world keeps turning, and the seconds keep ticking.” James Patterson, Angel
By J. Delaney-Howe9 months ago in Humans
- Top Story - July 2023
The Art of LoveTop Story - July 2023
“The world is but a canvas to our imagination.” Henry David Thoreau I love art. In all forms. It has been a constant through painting, music, writing, and woodworking. Art, in all its forms, is how I express myself and process my own emotions. My house is full of paintings, wooden art, furniture, and tapestries. Some I have painted. I even have one my husband painted, probably the only painting he has ever done. In his words, he is not artistic.
By J. Delaney-Howe10 months ago in Art
Fishing With Pops
(For my husband and my father-in-law, Mark Jr. and Mark Sr.) On a beautiful Friday in September, my husband (Mark), my father-in-law (Mark Sr.), and I decided to play hooky for the day and go fishing. We usually make it out fishing together once or twice a year, but we were unable to go last year due to the pandemic. My husband has a job that required him to work through the worst of it, and we couldn’t risk him picking up the virus and passing it to his father. So we did what many responsible people did and stayed away for his safety. It was nice to reconnect and spend some time together this summer.
By J. Delaney-Howe11 months ago in Men
- Top Story - June 2023