For Greg
Greg traveled a lot.
I always found that interesting about him –
how naturally he moved through the world,
curious and open, never afraid of people or
places.
His love for people was deep and
wide. But animals of all kinds loved him, too.
On one of the many hikes he and his wife
shared over the years, a stray dog began
following them along the trail. He became
their constant companion for that stretch of
the journey. They couldn’t bring him back
with them, but Greg made sure – absolutely
made sure – to find someone who would
care for that particular dog before they left
the country.
That was Greg. He never walked away
without making sure someone was safe.
When he lived in Turkey, a turtle found him.
He walked straight across the road toward
Greg, and Greg didn’t want him hurt or run
over. So, he and his wife stopped. They
made friends with the turtle. They named
him Nouri, which means light. He had a tick,
and for three months they nursed him back
to health. When they arrived home each
day, Nouri would run toward Greg. He loved
cool lettuce. And when he was strong
enough, Greg released him back into his
natural environment – exactly where he
belonged.
I miss Greg’s heart.
I miss his curiosity.
I miss the way he loved all living things.
That’s who my son was.
And that’s who he will always be to me.
Copyright © Joy M. Mills 2026
MJM (TM)