Pj Howard

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.

As you may know Pj was diagnosed with progressive ALS in April 2017. By September his prognosis was extreme with doubts of making Christmas. However, with the help of many dear friends, family, his dear Maribeth, and two beloved cousins from Arkansas, Alicia and Scott Davis Pj is stronger today than 6 mos ago.

His health is weak but our joy is great this Christmas Season of 2018. Dear Ms Millie his caregiving mini dachshund is at his side minute to minute and never wonders.

While it has been a long road we still look for more roads to travel. Pj loves you all.

UPDATE: 2019

It’s been almost a year since the LA Reunion where I was able to reconnect with friends I had neglected to realize I had, what a waste of time I have made of some of my most valuable personal relationships. LA = Lee Academy, whereas in Orange Beach we refer to LA = Lower Alabama, lower ALABAMA known as Pleasure Island is a blessed Place to live. However, I have found it can’t replace Marianna, Arkansas deep in my heart and soul, the place my dad called home also draws me near.

Near incapacitated I am approaching my 3rd Christmas the doctors said I would miss, how much can one be blessed? A month or so ago my beloved wife and eternal companion made the trip north to Memphis, Tennessee So that I could see my favorite 1st cousin (Janice Clay) and her failing husband Carroll, from there we ventured back to Marianna to the LA 50th Homecoming Football game and celebration. Here the school honored all prior graduates, football players, cheerleaders and teachers. On that warm summer eve, feeling like walking onto the “Field of Dreams” grass, you could smell and feel the history and personal memories of that little school with a big heart! My dear bride traveled the tiny hallways in search of my Senior Class picture-and to my amazement— there I was, so many years ago after having traveled so many miles and over a lifetime of triumphs and disappointments—I had returned to the scene where life paused for a brief moment in an effort to slow me down enough to take in the realism of life so that I could feel the connection which would later complete the circle. As often we do in life, I missed the moment and took the long way around, like a typical Alfa male without the assembly instructions.

So, today like many others my thoughts wonder hopelessly over the past, roads missed and roads mistakenly taken and I pray for mercy as well as for the blessings of a full and rich life. I am blessed by a large family, wonderful adult children now raising their own families, seemingly missing the many roads I traveled as they secure their lives early often heeding my brief moments of wisdom thus making me feel apart of their successes.

Yes, what a wonderful life it is to know that you have played a part of your Childrens successes and have gained enough wisdom to steer them only when needed. As parents this is your only hope in life; You cross your fingers and pray for their future knowing if that succeeds all other things will fall into place at the appointed hour. Health or wealth will never be a adequate substitute for success in the family, so my prayer is for my family and yours.

Pj