The Carriage Driver

  • Introduction
 
I was inconsolable when my first cat died. At the age of sixteen, I needed my mom to explain the process of death.  I wanted answers - specific answers.
 
In her usual manner, Mom listened to my fears.  She asked me to think of Peppi's happiest days.  Then she told me that heaven is a recreation of our most joyful time in life.
 
I've never forgotten this wise life lesson in my career choice of nursing - over thirty years ago.  Working with patients and loved ones at times of death and grief is an emotionally charged labor of love.
 
All involved are dealing with any number of issues and feelings including anger, fear, blame, guilt, insecurity ~ at times, even a spiritual distress.
 
As a holistic nurse, I encourage patients, family and students to tell their story.  As I listen to the stories of others, I am frequently awed by the universality of our experiences.
 
As a writer, I've seen positive benefits in the fictional genre.  A well-crafted story has the power to change one's experience of reality.  We have the ability to use the very images, colors and sounds that are created with the writer's pen to become more peaceful and centered. A release of feelings, fears and tears can accompany acknowledgement of the simultaneous grief and happiness in our life cycle.
 
"The Carriage Driver" stories by Michael Friedman exemplifies the healing powers of a story.
 
The Carriage Driver and his regal horse companion, Nuelle, are a metaphor for our last earthly journey.
 
Adaptability and compassion are a constant throughout each chapter.  Every passenger has their own life story and vision of what the next life means to them.  The wounds of a lifetime disappear.  Miracles happen as a new reality is custom made with Friedman's masterful pen.
 
I invite you to make a book about death part of your life.  Explore your own self-meaning, purpose and thoughts on spirituality, as you reach for this classic volume time after time.    
 
I invite you to share a copy of "The Carriage Driver" with someone in your life in need of faith, hope and peace.
 
Maria Jordan, Author, Nurse, Teacher
Jeffersonville, PA
 
 


The Carriage Driver is a book of short stories that will melt your heart and possibly bring you to tears. Some of us often wonder what is in store for us in the afterlife, and Michael's clever imagination makes us wonder even more. So many of the stories will offer some solace to those who have loved and lost. Riding along with Nuelle and the Carriage Driver to fetch their fares is an adventure that the reader will appreciate being on. This is the kind of book you will want to read over and over. A collection of vivid and detailed stories that will make you curious about your final journey. 

Linda Kaywood

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Foreword

A gifted author of short story fiction, The Carriage Driver is a genuine Mike Friedman masterpiece.  His keen insights into human nature and the world in which we live resonate with a universal appeal that is remarkable.  With boundless imagination, Mike kidnaps the reader, taking us to the streets of Boston and the lives of ordinary people as they embark upon diverse, extraordinary journeys to the "other side."  More than a collection of stories, this anthology instills a profound sense of awareness and feeling -- from the external landscapes of life, to the mystical, holistic paths of self-discovery.  Each story is brilliantly structured, with a memorable cast of characters and a unique, "we-are-there" visceral imagery and magnetism that keeps us turning the pages, wanting more. 

Excellent writing doesn't get any better than this.  A timeless classic, The Carriage Driver will inspire and entertain readers who love great stories, well told, for years to come.   
 
Genna Eastman

Reader's comment
marcoujor 
Oh, Mike, my eyes are heavy with tears at this ending...
perhaps it's the 'snow drenched streets' but this ending totally blindsided me...blew me away and makes me realize that you have a writing talent that takes the characters straight from your mind into your readers' hearts.

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