E³ Writer Q&A — Bobbie O’Brien
Four decades reporting — I’m now learning to throw back — fastballs, curves, sliders, knuckleballs, and the occasional wild pitch.
My favorite life quote
This changes as I seek inspiration — my current choice:
“You shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” Maya Angelou
The last thing I googled
“West Nile Virus cases, United States 2023” — because my younger sister in Ohio almost died from West Nile in September.
My most-read article
My God Wink Moment in a Walmart Parking Lot
A coincidence, or my husband sending me a sign?
medium.com
This went under the radar
My favorite music
Luckily in fifth grade, I was enrolled in a grade school that offered free instruments and music lessons. It was then that I met my first love — cello.
I love playing cello and I love cellists who love playing the instrument. My current heartthrob (with a nod to Yo-Yo) is 2Cellos:
Medium would be better if
Malky McEwan ran Medium.com. He has a proven track record of recruiting, assisting and encouraging new writers. He has thousands of followers but took time to make me personally feel welcome.
This makes me cry
I cried the first time I heard the lyrics “As strong as you are, tender you’ll go. I’m watching you breathing for the last time … “ — the song, I’ll Carry You Home, had already been around for more than a decade.
But I’d never heard it. And I was caught totally unprepared — sitting poolside in the spring sun, waiting for a friend.
James Blunt’s melodious voice came over the outdoor speaker — he sang “…watching you breathing for the last time.”
Tears instantly clouded my eyes. My throat closed up.
I had watched my husband of 42 years take his last breath.
Three years a widow — I thought I had control of my emotions.
Understand, it was a privilege to be present when my husband died while still holding my hand. Just four months into the Covid epidemic — countless family members were kept separated from their dying loved ones. We were lucky to be together.
My husband did not have Covid — he was just too weak to be treated for his probable lung cancer. He was home with me surrounded by his art, architectural drawings, books, photos and awards.
He was at peace as was I.
But I’ve learned since — grief can gobsmack you anywhere, at any time, with anything — a song, a photo, a favorite scent.
Even more poignant — the music video for I’ll Carry You Home — shows Blunt delivering a soldier’s dog tags home.
I carried my husband’s ashes “home” to Arlington National Cemetery. He was a US Navy “Mustang” (both enlisted and officer) — a veteran of WWII and Korea. I will join him there one day.
And every time I hear Blunt sing I’ll Carry You Home — I cry, uncontrollably.
If I could change one thing about myself
I’d like to be taller. I’m not greedy — only a few inches. I’d like to sit in a chair and have my feet touch the floor and to not have to ask for help reaching the top shelf at the grocery.
I’m happiest when
Swimming laps gives me a zen — meditative quality. My body finds a rhythm — stroke, kick, breathe — stroke, kick, breathe. My head underwater — my mind embraces the silence. I find peace. I am happy.
Why I’m on Medium
I was introduced to the platform by my talented friend and former TV colleague Mark Gould. He is an artist and edits the Metaculture Journal on Medium. I’m four years retired and find I have leftover words that need to be written and read.
My greatest professional achievement
Being selected as one of 10 international Rosalyn Carter Fellows for 2010–2011 was an honor and an excellent opportunity. The Carter Fellowship provided funding and resources for my full year of reporting on the mental health challenges of veterans, active-duty military and their families.
My project — including a blog I created Off the Base.org — was presented to President Jimmy Carter and his Carter Center advisors in 2011.
