Introduction

by Michelle Read DeGarmo

My friend, with whom I had run a successful consulting firm for over 14 years, died on October 31, 2012.

Five days later his siblings, who I had not met until the funeral, informed me that they now owned the company I created. I conceded the company name and attempted to keep the clients I had signed – people who knew my parents and grandparents (I’m from a really small town). The siblings then attempted to sue me. An inadequate understanding of business law caused me to lose my life’s work. Their first demand was to take down the company website.

 In doing so, I discovered that I owned the domain name. This led me to the idea of making it into something useful.

 This is me standing up for myself, claiming the last, small piece of my friend, and my former life, that no one can take from me. 

 I may write every day, or once a year. My first crack at blogging will be a collection of essays about navigating my way through grief, but I expect it may branch out into other things. We’ll see how it goes.