A brick, a memory, a love story
I need to tell you about The Brick.
Here’s the story:
Our family have been parishioners at St Patrick’s in Scottsdale since we moved here in 1998.
A few years later, in 2001 and 2002, the decision to build a new and bigger church to accommodate the growth in the parish was made, and a capital campaign was begun.
One initiative the church launched was that each family could purchase a brick, with their name or a message inscribed on it. I think they were $100 or $150 each. All the bricks would be installed by the new church entrance.
Well, this was right after 911, when I lost about three months worth of business and had pretty much zero money coming in. So we weren’t able to afford a brick at that time.
But for Valentine’s Day that year, I went to Home Depot and bought one brick. Yes, I stood in line and paid $.20 for one brick. I got several strange looks.
And I went home and painted “Paul ❤️ Jody” on it, wrapped it up, and lugged it to dinner that evening. That brick was Jody’s Valentine gift that year. (And if you’re wondering, no, I didn’t consider a fiber-optic thingy 🤣).
She loved it. For real.
Since then, whenever we would have a special day or night together, and agreed that it was “brickworthy”, we would write the date on the back of the Brick.
Fun, romantic, and special. I will treasure the memories forever.
Wishing you all a lifetime of memorable “brickworthy” days and nights.
Love you all
❤️❤️
About Paul
If you've navigated the complexities of love, loss, or life's unpredictable twists and turns, this blog is for you. Paul, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2022 and lost his beloved Jody in 2024, is also a father, new grandfather and a speaker/writer. Paul writes to make sense of the world around him, sharing his personal journey through grief, Parkinson’s, and life's challenges. With a mix of lightheartedness, thoughtfulness, and unwavering authenticity, Paul offers a relatable and heartfelt perspective on the human experience. His writing is often described as warm, genuine and deeply moving.