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ron stempkowski

  • the xanax diary
  • about ron
    • about ken
  • awards
    • Mountain Climbing for Beginners
  • the ronaissance
  • my faves
  • second city
  • publication
    • Extraordinary Healers Vol. 7
  • media
  • travel
    • Costa Rica (June 2018)
    • Iceland (March 2020)

ron stempkowski

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

  • the xanax diary
  • about ron
    • about ken
  • awards
    • Mountain Climbing for Beginners
  • the ronaissance
  • my faves
  • second city
  • publication
    • Extraordinary Healers Vol. 7
  • media
  • travel
    • Costa Rica (June 2018)
    • Iceland (March 2020)

Category: Grief

Of New Beginnings

Of New Beginnings

Posted on January 2, 2017July 12, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. Christmas approached, skulking around dubiously then receded like I’d never experienced before. I was happy to see it go. I was thril... Read More
A Letter to the Gay-Loving Trump Voter

A Letter to the Gay-Loving Trump Voter

Posted on November 21, 2016April 22, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski
So, you voted for Trump. And you claim to love someone who is gay. Well, here’s why you may not be hearing from them as much. You see, your vote for Trump really says this to a gay person: “You’... Read More
Home Is Where the Dead Hookers Are

Home Is Where the Dead Hookers Are

Posted on November 3, 2016May 14, 2022 by Ron Stempkowski
  My house never feels more like a home than when it’s brimming with people I love. Recently, my A-List (Retta, Kathy, Alan and Tina) had the opportunity to get together–for the first... Read More
The Birthday Tradition

The Birthday Tradition

Posted on September 24, 2016July 12, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski
I always approach the Creticos Cancer Center with great reverence. For all the caring work that is done there by the nurses and staff. And all the courage shown by the patients who are treated there, ... Read More
Connecting Purpose to Loss

Connecting Purpose to Loss

Posted on September 21, 2016May 14, 2022 by Ron Stempkowski
Why was I crying as I walked down the street, carrying a salad I’d picked up for lunch? No, not because I’m a moosh bag who sobs to any decently scored coffee commercial around the holida... Read More
Called On Account of Rain

Called On Account of Rain

Posted on August 19, 2016January 24, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski
As I’ve written before, I love to go camping—partly for its own sake but partly (probably mostly) because it was something Ken introduced me to. I’m not a deep woods camper, but a give me a beau... Read More
Ten Years or a Blink?

Ten Years or a Blink?

Posted on May 1, 2016July 12, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski
As soon as the calendar turns to January, June 1 has traditionally been a magnet for my attention and emotion since it became the day Ken died in 2011. But this year May 1 leapt out at me. And I was s... Read More
5 Years of “The Xanax Diary”

5 Years of “The Xanax Diary”

Posted on December 7, 2015December 7, 2015 by Ron Stempkowski
It seems like I’ve always had this blog; that it has always been here to engage me and calm me and focus me and distract me. But I haven’t. I’ve always written for those reasons, bu... Read More
The Club No One Wants to Belong To

The Club No One Wants to Belong To

Posted on November 15, 2015October 14, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski
I’m lucky in that I only go downtown to work in my company’s office once or twice a week—or sometimes not at all. I’ve worked from home for the better portion of the last ten years. (I can’t... Read More
On Ken's 50th Birthday

On Ken's 50th Birthday

Posted on September 21, 2015July 12, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski
I’ve felt the pull of this day for a couple of weeks. Uneasiness and my social impotence returned, leaving me tired and usually in the desire of no one’s company. For someone as far down ... Read More
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Ron Stempkowski

Ron Stempkowski

I'm an award-winning essayist and audience-focused word ninja living in Chicago. I have a passion for storytelling with words and images/videos.

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