After spending a decade away, in 2023 I came home - to Petersburg, Alaska. Still carrying the weight of grief from the recent passing of my momma, I returned to her old stomping ground, the Petersburg Pilot. The Pilot is our local newspaper, filled with old friends who loved my mom as much as I do. It felt familiar and comforting, like being wrapped in something known.

I knew and loved everyone who worked there, well, almost everyone.

As I walked into the Pilot to start my new job, I noticed someone sitting at the desk, silent tears streaming down his face. This is how I met Ray. Ray told me that his mom was dying. I knew that feeling of grief well, I had been drowning in it for months by then. I piped up with maybe too much enthusiasm "hey, me too!". We shared long conversations, laughter, and a quiet understanding that we both had tragedy in our lives. Almost immediately, I felt certain that Ray was meant to be in my life.

What started as friendship, slowly became something deeper. In that shared space of grief and grace, love found us.

Registry

Registry