Johanna's Journey

Rick McGrath
Matilija Press (2006)
ISBN 0977357619
Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (10/06)

Rick met Johanna for the first time in 1992 when she assisted in the birth of Rick’s first grandchild.  At the time, Johanna was married to Rick’s ex brother-in-law, Mark.  Then, in May of 1998, Mark committed suicide.  Johanna, a deeply God-fearing woman, made up her mind to never allow another man into her life except as a friend.  With this understanding, a close friendship begins to build between them. When Rick backs out of a planned hiking trip at the last minute to go fishing, Johanna cuts him from her life.  She has no need of someone like him, someone who would cancel a planned trip with a friend because something that sounded better came along.  Another problem was Rick’s belief system, which Johanna felt did not match her own since she had given her whole life over to God.

Rick and Johanna meet again and although Johanna fights herself, she finds herself drawn into a sexual relationship with Rick.  Johanna wants to get married, but Rick hesitates.  They each have broken marriages behind them, with all the baggage that comes with these relationships. 

But during a vacation to St. Thomas in October, 2003, something went terribly wrong.  Johanna became ill, so ill the local hospital could not treat her and sent her to the Miami Heart Hospital where doctors diagnosed an aneurysm and arranged for surgery to take place at another hospital.  While the surgery went well, Johanna did not bounce back like she was expected to and so began a long period of recuperation.  After several weeks, Rick decided to take her home to California, thinking she might recover better in familiar surroundings.  Instead, Rick hears the devastating news that Johanna would probably never regain consciousness and, in accordance with her will, they were taking no heroic measures to save her life, instead they were letting her die.

“Johanna’s Journey” is told in flashbacks, some of it Rick’s memories, some excerpts from Johanna’s journals…the story of a man and woman, both torn apart by their previous lives, who lost their chance of happiness with a single blow from Fate.

Make comment on weblog