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Tag: about charles

I wanted to know what he was going to be

 

I was so curious. What would Charles become one day?

He was so quirky, funny, animated.

I struggled seeing him as an adult. But still I pondered and I wondered.

That’s what we all do, right? Wonder what our children will be one day. It’s the great reward.

When things got bad, I thought they’d get better.

He was the kid that romanced the camera. Owned the stage when he was on it. Life of the party when he walked in. The center of my universe. Charles was pure bubbling joy on two legs.

I was a stay at … Read more...

Emotionally Naked car door inspires conversation

emotionally naked car magnet

I forget this magnet is on my car.

I’ll be inside the car and someone will ask or walk out from inside a store with a curious look on their face. “What’s that mean?” It always takes me a second to realize what they’re talking about since I can’t see the sign from inside the car.

Like when someone says, “I like your earrings,” but you feel your ear because you can’t remember which ones you put on that day.

After my “what are they talking about?” pause, I notice their gaze and I remember the sign.

Then I tell … Read more...

The missing notebooks

When Charles was at Wasatch Academy, he carried his rap diaries (as I call them) with him everywhere in his backpack. He wrote rap music in these notebooks. I swear he had at least 20 or more of them.

His Dad and I begged him to let us scan them. But he wouldn’t even let us see them. I know why now. They were very dark and he didn’t want us to know. He did share them with others, however. Funny, no one else was alarmed by these notebooks and their content. They clearly illustrate a struggle with depression, suicide, … Read more...

10 things Charles did that drove me crazy

Charles had a lot of habits that were challenging.

He was a nonconformist to the max, a dreamer to a fault, pushed the envelope non-stop and was the most stubborn person I ever met in my life. When you have a child like this, you learn a lot about rolling with things and setting boundaries early. Not that boundaries ever inspired him to let up. It didn’t. But I held them for the sake of my own sanity.

It’s funny those habits that drove me the craziest are the memories I laugh the hardest about after his death by suicide. … Read more...

Right hand heart – #griefheart number 130

This picture of Mike Stewart’s hand reminds me of a real beating heart. Am I crazy? Do you see the yellow halo over the R?

From Mike: “My right hand man at FFS* Charles Rogers now my right hand man for life. Miss you and love you bro.”

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by #griefheart category.

*Family Foundation School

Get updates to this project by subscribing

Video: Forgive me momma – by Charles Aubrey Rogers

 … Read more...

What I miss most about Charles

charles aubrey rogers

I miss that beautiful curly hair and his sense of humor. I miss his tall, skinny hugs and the way he altered his voice when he greeted his dog, Andy, and the dog’s reaction of pure joy. I miss the way he smiled with his eyes.

I miss the conversations we had in my office. Those days he’d come in after school, sit in his Dad’s chair and talk. He would tell me the stories that touched his heart.

To Charles, everybody mattered.

Their stories mattered and he was never too busy to listen and connect. As smart and talented as he was, this … Read more...

Angel Devil heart – #griefheart 123

Angel devil heart
Angel devil heart

I remember when Charles picked this shirt out. It remember him in it. Charles always felt he had an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. I see a lot of angel/devil/demon references in his music.

Drugs were definitely a demon and made him feel as such. He hated himself for what they made him do. But I’m going to focus on one of his angel references that he wrote for Tiffani when he was at the Family School in NY.

“She’s my angel, so its only appropriate that she stay on my mind like … Read more...

Carry him in my heart – #griefheart number 114

Carry him in my heart
Carry him in my heart

The grief journey is all about learning to move forward by carrying the memory of your loved one in your heart. I want Charles here with me, of course. I will always want that.

I love this picture of him in elementary school with his bowl cut. A sweet memory of him before his brain told him he was worthless and he took his own life.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

Before and After
… Read more...

Wagging heart – #griefheart number 113

love-of-dogs
Wagging heart

My friend Bonnie’s daughter got a new pooch. She realized after this picture was taken that she had captured a heart on the dog’s rump. And she sent it to me to be part of the #griefheart project. My late son Charles loved, loved dogs. They loved him.

I asked her the new dog’s name. It’s Charlie. Now that’s ironic.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

… Read more...

Puppy love – #griefheart number 110

Charles loved his dog. He wanted one forever. He begged in middle school and I felt so guilty for saying no. I knew a dog would require my time no matter what my kids said about “doing everything.”

On his 15th birthday, we finally got Charles a dog. The world rejoiced! We got Andy from my friend Diane’s daughter who had to move to a new apartment that didn’t allow dogs. It was love at first sight.

Andy is still with us. I never thought the dog would outlive our son.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart … Read more...

Spotlight heart – #griefheart number 105

Charles suffered from anxiety but never on stage. He was as comfortable and natural on the stage as any seasoned actor. Charles had the innate gift of timing. You can’t teach that. He always had the audience’s attention. And no one I have ever seen could capture a crowd like he could.

It’s so painful to know the gifts he took with him when he died. He was truly a creative genius that was only getting started. I always told him he had “it.” And what really hurts sometimes is not knowing what he could have become.

But maybe there … Read more...

Peter Pan Heart – #griefheart number 102

 

In Charles’ obituary, I referenced the fact that he was Peter Pan hence the inspiration behind this #griefheart.

“…A deep, soulful, passionate and sensitive young man, Charles loved and treasured family. He was a true artist, an off-the-cuff comedian who loved to rap, entertain and act. He loved dogs, funky socks, drama, writing and making people laugh. But most of all, he loved people.

As many artists do, Charles lived life on his own terms and ultimately chose how he wanted to end it. He lit up every room he ever walked into. But he also struggled and is … Read more...

Sweet heart – #griefheart number 97

Every one that knew Charles knew about his love of sugar. In all honesty, I believe it was his first addiction. He loved candy, sweet, over-processed cereals and sugary coffee drinks, donuts and sports drinks. He even went trick or treating at the age of 19.

Charles was also a very sweet person. A dreamer at heart, he cared deeply about all of his friends and family. Nothing was more important than his relationships. This is to my youngest child who died by suicide before I got enough of his sweetness.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart … Read more...

Heart mussel – #griefheart number 96

Mussel heart
Mussel heart

Charles loved mussels. Remembering how much he loved them, I ordered them for the first time about 9 months ago. And then I ordered them again and again and found that I liked them, too.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by #griefheart category.… Read more...

Friends speaking at Charles’ memorial service Part 2

From theatre friends to Anne Moss’ friends, more stories about Charles at his memorial service after he died by suicide. Part 1 is here.

It took me a year to post all these and be able to watch them. I am very thankful to have them and for all the people that stood up and spoke in front of everyone that day.… Read more...