Yesterday, a poster for a play that will be presented at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre arrived in my mailbox—not my email box, but in the mailbox at my front door. It was not delivered by the mailman, it was delivered by the play’s author, Allan Wilson. My company, Blue Grama Publications Corp. published Allan’s book, Standards of Excellence in 2005.  I had just met Allan and saw his play, “Walking Upright Through the Fire” read at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, for Kids Cancer Care Foundation. So, I read his book and believed that it was the more marketable choice for my company to publish, than an emotionally-driven play.  The play, I believed would be a limited sale to those doing a presentation.

Now in 2010, I look back and see that the major interest in Allan’s work surrounds not the book that I published, but the play.  The painful story of a man journaling the final phase of his son’s life is compelling to many who deal with the loss of a loved one.  Allan’s continued struggle to find the real meaning behind his devastation has been a healing process to him and to others seeking to find solace from the pain of losing a child to terminal cancer. Through Blue Grama Publications, Allan will continue to deliver hope and meaning to bereavers, as the play will be published and will continue to contribute support towards the Kids Cancer Care Foundation.

Someday, Allan will lay down beside his son.  Today, however Allan flips a story of loss to a story of optimism.  No matter your loss, you too can stand upright facing the most difficult events in your life.  Concentrate on the positive aspects of your process and share your story with others so they too, can find hope in a bleak situation.  Allan often refers to the play as Josh’s story; it is Allan’s story:  a broken-hearted parent finds a way to keep the love of his child alive, a way to assist others through sharing his story and to continue contributing to the charity that fights the cause of his devastating loss.  Alan is the cancer survivor in this story, learning there is something beyond the pain.  With the love of and for a child whose spirit lives on, Alan remains a parent and a mailman delivering a message of hope and survival.

Here are the details of the upcoming play: Walking Upright Through the Fire, a two-act play by Allan Wilson, presented by Taber Players, Thurs. Feb 18–Sat. Feb 20, 2010 7:30 pm Sterndale Bennett Theatre Lethbridge, AB admission $20.  Starring:  Derek Stevenson, Doug MacArthur, Jocelyn Steinborn with:  Dorian Ayers, Peter Lovering, Alea Steinborn and Mickey Wilson.  Directed by Darrell Croft.  Stage Manager:  Murray Pruden.

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