For J (Plus the Article on Copper Online)

Here’s the link to the Copper article: For J

For J

 Who is J? My wife Judicia. On May 9, 2023, I added the first songs to a Spotify mixtape that only my wife was supposed to see. At first.  I made the mix private.  But how would she see it if I passed away before her?  She doesn't have a Spotify account.  That's where my son comes in.  I would tell him in advance about the mix and he would share it when I'm gone.

•   Wait?  When I'm gone?  I wasn't planning on going nowhere.  This is true.  But I've always had this premonition that I would die before my wife.  I'm 60 years old.  She's 62.  My son is 32.  We're all relatively young.  But something always nagged at me about death.  And I wanted to leave her behind something that would be different than any other keepsake. A mixtape seemed the way to go.  She knows I'm a music fanatic.  My idea was the tape would be a look back at our time together.  Especially our early days.  Going out, getting married, having a child.  Those were the cornerstones of our young relationship.  

  But the plan almost took a disastrous turn on. July 30, 2024. I suffered a stroke and was incapacitated for 3 days.  Luckily, I awoke from the stroke and am doing fine now.  But for a few days things were not looking positive.  My son came all the way from Australia to spend a week with me as I recovered.   When he went back I remembered the mixtape I had made for my wife.   Luckily he played it for her and all turned out well.  

  Still, I'm reminded how fragile life is.  Had I not come out of the stroke as strong as before, what would have become of the music gift I made for my wife?  

"I will love you forever".  And I always will.  

Spotify playlist link: For J