ron stempkowski

Walking in the Present

Posted on May 2, 2023May 19, 2023 by Ron Stempkowski

I spent a lot less time outside this winter. Without my winter-loving Mongolian snow beast, there was no reason to suit up (or boot up) and play in the snow. Though we didn’t get much snow this ... Read More

Retreating

Posted on April 25, 2023May 19, 2023 by Ron Stempkowski

I renewed a commitment to myself this year. I took some time and intention to remind myself that I’m a writer. And writers are writers because they write. So, I’ve worked to build a content calend... Read More

A Night to Remember

Posted on April 18, 2023December 22, 2025 by Ron Stempkowski

Since saying goodbye to my sweet puppy girl in December, she, Ken, and Quantum have been on my mind even more than usual. Though Ken and Quantum never met Kallie, they are intimately connected to each... Read More

Grateful for the Tribe

Posted on April 11, 2023May 19, 2023 by Ron Stempkowski

Looking back over my life, I realize I’ve always been someone who looks to find “my people,” those who I feel organically connected to in some way–great or small. And those I&#... Read More

Enchanted Ravenswood

Posted on April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 by Ron Stempkowski

I loved living in Ravenswood, a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. Even the name was evocative of some kind of old-timey place rife with history and magic. I lived in a giant one-bedroom apart... Read More

The Puppy Who Saved Me

Posted on December 11, 2022October 31, 2025 by Ron Stempkowski

Getting a puppy is a big step. For anyone. Getting Kallie was an even bigger step for me. Because bringing her into my life was the first big step I took toward moving forward after Ken’s death. The... Read More

In the Groove

Posted on June 1, 2022June 1, 2022 by Ron Stempkowski

The older I get, the harder it is to mourn a life I didn’t have. -Me, today June 1, 2011 was also a Wednesday. I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t checked the calendar just now. As I s... Read More

In the Beginning…

Posted on February 21, 2022February 22, 2022 by Ron Stempkowski

As someone who spends a lot of time in front of his computer, I was so pleasantly surprised to run across some really old pre-iPhone pix I snapped of Ken and me. The one above is dated 28 days after w... Read More

Lost and Found

Posted on June 1, 2021December 22, 2025 by Ron Stempkowski

Dear Ken, I’ve thought about this day for a long time: what would feel like to have lost you for as long as I had you—just 10 years. How much would it hurt? And what would it mean? Anything? Every... Read More

A Tale of Two Condos

Posted on March 26, 2021March 26, 2021 by Ron Stempkowski

It was a cold, rainy October night in 2014. I was snuggled up on my sofa in front of the fire–probably drinking wine–when there was a knock at my door. I had only lived there since January... Read More

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ron stempkowski

ron stempkowski

love, loss, healing, and humor…in no particular order

Category: Grief

Walking in the Present

Retreating

A Night to Remember

Grateful for the Tribe

Enchanted Ravenswood

The Puppy Who Saved Me

In the Groove

In the Beginning…

Lost and Found

A Tale of Two Condos