Lightning Has Struck: A diary of life without Dad

Author Max Power asked those questions, too. He took the extra step by keeping a poignant diary of his life without his Dad during the first six months after his dad's death. His dad meant the world to him. Now he wants the whole world to know the suffering and pain he experienced after his dad's death by sharing his journal, which is written candidly. Step into Max's shoes and walk his journey of pain and self-discovery. C'mon, I dare you!

This non-fiction book is not intended to help you cope with death. It is a personal look into the life of a guy whose dad died suddenly. His dad was only 54 years old. At age 26, when life is ripe with possibilities, Max Power felt that lightning struck. Indeed, it did. Hence, the title to this book and the powerful message this book cover sends. Lightning bolt and all!

I could relate to this book because I lost my dad the same year Max's dad passed away. Max's diary wouldn't be much different than mine, had I chosen to diary those six tough months after losing my father. It's a job I wouldn't envy. Reality bites. But, life goes on.

The theme in this book is age-old: life is hard and it gets harder. If anyone tells you life gets easier, don't believe them. It doesn't. What do they know?

Lightning Has Struck journals into the day-to-day struggles a family is faced with after losing their captain of the ship. Death changes the physical and mental structures of families, especially the oldest sons. Like Max, grieving family members are forced to play a character role they didn't audition for. Life and death take center stage. Life will never be the same for Max and his family.

Hoping it was a bad dream and that his dad would be there for him again, one of Max's most painful realizations is that his dad won't be there to see him get married or to hold his first grandchild. Not physically, anyway.

Max's first six months are a series of weeks, days, and months experienced in deep depression. His mother is understandably distraught, yet these emotions are hard to deal with for Max, whose grieving cuts deep like a knife.

Emotionally, we carry our parents with us for the rest of our lives (just as parents carry their children with them). You know how proud most parents are of their children and you've got to believe that they are, somehow, watching over you in this tough game they call Life. Whether your parents are alive here on Earth or in a better place, they know what you're doing.

Interestingly, Max doesn't say the G word. He intentionally refers to God as G-d. I asked Max Power what that was all about. Here's what he told me: "For the spelling of the Almighty, I use G-d for religious reasons.  I was always taught not to write the name in total, so I never have, and I was always taught to write it this way.  This is how I've been writing it for, oh, 25 years or so, and will stay."

This is a print on demand book and a relatively easy read at 107 pages long. Is it depressing to read? Sometimes. It may hit a little too close to home, especially if you've recently lost a parent. There's obvious anger in this book. But, it is likely a normal emotion in the grieving process. The author feels it is an empowering book because it lets people know they are not alone, but it doesn't tell you how to feel or what to do. You just read about Max and his day-to-day struggles without his dad.

Since the author has strong ties to New York City and a generous heart, he is donating 10 percent of his royalties from the sale of this book to a September 11th charity which provides support to the families of fallen firefighters, police officers and other rescue workers who perished in the September 11th disaster.  

If you think you're alone in grieving for a loved one, you'll like this book. In journal form with no chapters, you'll find that Max's struggles are very similar to what you've gone through or you're going through.