text: Grief Navigation 2020 GPS System Grieving is a process; a journey. This journeys length is different for every single person who experiences it, and is not equal to the amount of time it takes to "heal". It's a fucked up journey I wouldn't call into a radio show to win free tickets for. I'm gonna describe the journey to you like this, in a way you might understand if you've had your head up your ass: it's driving the struggle bus, guided by the Grief Navigation 2020 gps system. The struggle bus itself is a rusted, rickety old pile of shit. Something from the 60s and NOT well taken care of. Most of the windows are cracked, AC nor heat works and it's obvious at minimum one tire is a doughnut that was never replaced. The Grief Navigation 2020 gps system... never has and never will navigate you correctly to any destination. The voice that speaks directions out loud can not be muted and sounds like a failed Siri prototype speaking in Hooked-On-Phonics. The journey. It's indescribable in so many ways, and the worst thing anyone will ever go through. Like I said before it's different for everyone, cause I bet you already tuned me out. Pay attention. The devastation happens and just like that. Poof. Your vehicle is replaced with the struggle bus. You're upset from the devastation but the struggle bus? That is not real...? For some days, there is a true denial to accept that the rickety pile of shit is here to escort you on this journey. When clearly, it is indeed parked exactly where your vehicle was and has not budged. After these some odd days there is a moment, a realization or an understanding that happens. I won't call it acceptance of the devastation, because it's not. But you just know that it is time to board the rickety pile of shit, the struggle bus. There only appears to be one seat for you, the driver's seat. You turn the key and the struggle bus coughs and sputters to life as something you hear, but can't see boots up. In all it's odd, robotic, Hooked-On-Phonics glory it loudly announces it is the Grief Navigation 2020 gps system. It almost doesn't make sense. It asks where you'd like to go. Nowhere? Onward with every day life? Into a hole? The casino? The bottom of a bottle? Alcohol or prescription, there is no judgement here. Your answer doesn't matter to Grief Navigation anyway. From here you will drive the guided struggle bus to places like: Numb Creek, St. Furious, Gloomsville, Lonely Oaks, Rage Valley, Heartbreak Rapids, Regret Prairie, Depression Grove, Anxiety Park and Guilt Heights. That is only a handful of map examples the Grief Navigation system is equipped with. It will take you to visit these places in no particular order, over and over again. Even if you want to stay awhile in one place. If you want to stop and rest. If you want to leave. If you want to choose your next stop. And you will even find that you can somehow be in more than one of these places at the same exact time. No, believe me. I have no idea how one can be in Regret Prairie and Rage Valley at the same damn time either. You know, I have zero clue about when this journey ends, if it does. Or if you ever stop visiting these places in the struggle bus. I'm only describing the journey as far as I've travelled it. Because it needs to be described, spoken about more. Did you pull your head out of your ass? Did you pay attention? Cause someday your own vehicle just might go poof.