The story of heartbreak to triumph in the wake of a tragedy.
Their first date in college was a U2 concert and after that Lauren and
Jack Grandcolas were inseparable. He was mesmerized by her sweetness,
fierce intelligence and eyes that were as blue and alive as the ocean.
They married and settled in San Francisco, each pursuing their dreams in
the business world. After a decade of trying, Lauren finally got
pregnant at the age of thirty-eight. On September 6, 2001, she flew to
New Jersey--her beloved Little Grandma had died and following the
funeral Lauren shared the joyous news of her pregnancy to lift her
family's spirits. Flying home to Jack on September 11th, she arrived at
Newark airport early and walked on to a flight for which she hadn't been
ticketed: United 93. During that terrifying flight, Lauren left a calm
and reassuring voice mail for Jack which remains a testament to her
courage and selfless love, even in the face of her own mortality.
Like a River to the Sea is a story of love overcoming loss. In this
moving memoir, Jack Grandcolas brings to life his college sweetheart
while taking the reader through his long journey to make peace with the
loss of Lauren and their unborn child. Jack is honest about the depth of
his despair and his battles with depression, PTSI, and heavy drinking.
As he digs himself out of the deepest hole imaginable, Jack learns
universal truths that will help anyone confronted with tragedy.
Like a River to the Sea is also a deeply personal look at an event of
historical importance. Jack takes us inside the White House to meet with
President Bush and to the precipice of a still-smoldering hole in the
earth outside of Shanksville, Penn. The book goes aboard United 93 in
its final minutes, when this brave collection of Americans fought to
retake control of the plane, ultimately preventing the hijackers from
completing their mission and becoming the first heroes in the war
against terror.
As with Jack's life, Like a River to the Sea is defined by the
boundless depths of human love. Eighteen years after losing his wife and
their unborn baby, Jack finally remarried, and his new bride so honors
the love between him and Lauren that her wedding ring includes stones
that Lauren once wore on her finger. This is the magic of Like A River
To The Sea, which begins with heartbreak but becomes a story about the
triumph of the human spirit.
