Assignment: Write a condolence letter to a family friend whose husband passed away last week. 

Where my head went: 

• My 1st Anniversary
• Purple Rain
• Brad Graham

Why? My first anniversary is next week and the last time we saw the family friend who passed away was at a wedding party for us in May. The 1st anniversary is called the “paper anniversary” which gave me an idea of what to get my wife (that and the fact that I was stalling from writing a condolence card. 

Being sad often makes me think of the song “Purple Rain” which is 8 minutes of triumphal arranging undercut by lyrics so painfully lonely and sad. And lately, when I’m down, I often think of my friend Brad Graham who passed away in January.