When Sunday Smiled: Walking Through Life and Loss - Softcover

Davidson, Andy M

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1948888955 ISBN 13: 9781948888950

Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., 2019

Synopsis

When his son Aaron died in a motorcycle accident, Andy found that nothing else mattered—nothing. He lived five months on the Appalachian Trail while dealing with his grief. The wilderness is the backdrop for what he found: “God’s world opens up when everything you need is on your back and your only concern is the next white blaze."When Sunday Smiled is a poignant tale of a father’s journey on the Appalachian Trail as he seeks to heal his wounded heart. This unique memoir is not just another adventure tale. It is a transparent view into someone who has experienced deep loss as he tries to make sense of his world. As Andy travels the A.T. he is confronted with how to live with others, how to relate to God, and how to live with himself.

About this title

About the Author

In the fourth grade, I swelled with pride when my teacher shareda funny story I wrote with the other teachers. Since then I guess I was hooked.Harper Lee's, To Kill A Mockingbirdhas inspired me the most because she masterfully told an important storythrough the voice of an innocent child. I also like Malcolm Gladwell fornon-fiction. When Sunday Smiled, myaccount of walking the Appalachian trail while dealing with the death of my sonis my first published book. My first novel, TheDime is about a mother who tracks down the abductor of her adopted daughterand is awaiting publication. Currently, I am working on About Grief, a non-fiction book told though the voices ofsurvivors.
 
Andy M Davidson, Psy.D is a former Navy Captain (O-6) andClinical Psychologist who retired after twenty years of service. His experiencewith Special Operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, and PresidentialSupport Duty taught him how to work with those suffering from loss.  It wasn't until he lost his oldest son did herealize the full psychological and spiritual effects of grief.
 
Andy and his wife, Lori reside on the Outer Banks, NC, whiletheir two surviving children and grandson live in Colorado and Texas.
 
Andy's weekly blog at PsycCentral.com/ThroughLifeandloss reachesthose who are seeking answers to life's most difficult questions. When Sunday Smiled is an intimate lookat a father's grief as he hikes over 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail fromGeorgia to Maine. In addition to a novel that focuses on grief, he is currentlyworking on a research-based book told through the stories of grief survivors.In addition to writing, Andy is a regular speaker at church and civic groupsabout grief and loss.

From the Back Cover

After his son Aaron dies in a motorcycleaccident Andy finds that nothing else mattered--nothing. To get away from peopleand the anger he feels towards God he turns to the Appalachian Trail andsurvives five months in the wild. But the trail is not the story; the trail isthe backdrop for what he found:

"God's worldopens up when everything you need is on your back and your only concern is thenext white blaze."

When SundaySmiled is a true life story of a father's journey on the Appalachian Trailas he seeks to heal his wounded heart. It is a transparent view into someonewho has experienced deep loss as he tries to make sense of his world. After Andyexperiences a mountain top miracle, he discovers that God has been there theentire time and people are what he needs to complete his thru-hike throughlife.

The author, a retired Navypsychologist spent a career helping Sailors, Soldiers, SEALs, and Marines copewith death but now is faced with his own fledgling spirituality as he dealswith his guilt, depression, and anger. This insightful account is punctuatedwith humor as he meets a variety of hikers along the trail who he grows todepend upon. Hiking the trail is tough and living on the trail is tougher. Buthiking and living on the trail with purpose provides a triumphantexperience.

Edition details

• Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1948888955
• ISBN 13: 9781948888950
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 184