1 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:07,470 Steve Smelski: Hello everyone and welcome to today's episode of Hope Thru Grief. 2 00:00:07,770 --> 00:00:09,549 I'm one of your co-hosts Steve Smelski. 3 00:00:09,549 --> 00:00:12,330 I'm here with my good friend and co-host Marshall Adler. 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:14,040 Marshall Adler: Hello, everybody. 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:15,030 Hope you're doing well today. 6 00:00:15,810 --> 00:00:19,770 Steve Smelski: So today we have a special guest on her name is Bethany 7 00:00:19,770 --> 00:00:25,410 Adams, and we're going to talk a little bit today about a sibling loss. 8 00:00:25,410 --> 00:00:27,300 It's one of the things that we haven't touched on. 9 00:00:27,455 --> 00:00:30,395 And, uh, we decided to see if Bethany would join us today. 10 00:00:31,044 --> 00:00:35,004 Marshall Adler: Bethany, I just want to thank you so much for agreeing 11 00:00:35,004 --> 00:00:37,045 to talk today and being our guest. 12 00:00:37,075 --> 00:00:41,635 And I just want to tell you that, uh, for me, this will be a very 13 00:00:42,205 --> 00:00:49,805 insightful discussion because, um, I lost my son Matt, two years ago, 14 00:00:49,855 --> 00:00:54,504 I was 32 years old and his younger brother, David is obviously in your 15 00:00:54,504 --> 00:00:57,180 position with losing a sibling. 16 00:00:57,599 --> 00:01:01,980 So I've been very, very interested in any insights and comments you could 17 00:01:01,980 --> 00:01:05,099 give from a siblings loss perspective. 18 00:01:05,099 --> 00:01:08,970 So again, thank you so much for agreeing to be our guest today, but 19 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:14,340 if you could just start out and just tell us your story, that'd be great. 20 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:16,009 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 21 00:01:16,009 --> 00:01:17,030 Yeah, absolutely. 22 00:01:17,030 --> 00:01:20,390 And thank you guys so much for having me on the podcast as well. 23 00:01:20,390 --> 00:01:25,410 It's really an honor for me to be able to share my story and to be able to how'd 24 00:01:25,410 --> 00:01:27,190 that go a little farther into the world. 25 00:01:27,190 --> 00:01:27,620 Marshall Adler: That's great, That's 26 00:01:28,260 --> 00:01:28,590 Bethany Adams: great 27 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:35,250 So my name is Bethany and I lost my brother four years ago. 28 00:01:35,550 --> 00:01:38,250 It was July of 2016. 29 00:01:39,270 --> 00:01:40,800 I was in college. 30 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,110 It was my second sophomore year of college. 31 00:01:43,259 --> 00:01:46,410 I had just finished my first semester of nursing school. 32 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,130 So it was the summer after that and I was at home. 33 00:01:50,729 --> 00:01:52,259 He was off working at camp. 34 00:01:52,289 --> 00:01:56,070 We spent a few I think a month together, I got home in May. 35 00:01:56,070 --> 00:01:58,470 We spent about a month, both together at home. 36 00:01:58,530 --> 00:02:01,740 He was in high school at the time, just graduating. 37 00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:08,220 We had his high school graduation in May, and then he went off to camp and I had a 38 00:02:08,220 --> 00:02:14,100 summer internship doing kind of summer, summer camps for kids here in Houston. 39 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:21,180 So fast forwarding a little bit to June. 40 00:02:22,380 --> 00:02:25,620 It was Father's Day um, and this is the last time that I 41 00:02:25,620 --> 00:02:28,320 actually really saw Hudson. 42 00:02:28,980 --> 00:02:30,840 So he had come home for Father's Day. 43 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,620 He had real short weekends off at camp. 44 00:02:35,490 --> 00:02:40,080 Uh, so he'd come home for father's day and we went to the beach and I 45 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:48,090 just remember that being such a, I, I think it really highlighted the 46 00:02:48,090 --> 00:02:50,310 fact that we were both very much. 47 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,240 In the same stage of life, he was kind of entering my stage. 48 00:02:54,750 --> 00:02:58,290 So for half of high school, we were kind of in the same stage. 49 00:02:58,860 --> 00:03:02,400 Um, and then we were kind of entering that again with college. 50 00:03:03,210 --> 00:03:09,540 So I remember just talking about college, giving him advice about college, uh, 51 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,750 talking about his time at camp and just really relating to each other 52 00:03:12,750 --> 00:03:16,830 cause I don't think it was until we were teenagers that we started really. 53 00:03:17,715 --> 00:03:20,805 Really relating to each other and feeling like we were in the same 54 00:03:20,805 --> 00:03:25,785 stage of life, but I just remember being out in the waves, me and him 55 00:03:25,785 --> 00:03:27,315 like went out and we were swimming. 56 00:03:27,315 --> 00:03:33,805 We were catching waves and then a storm kind of rolled in and we, we 57 00:03:33,825 --> 00:03:38,385 had to run, run out of the, the ocean real fast pack up, all our stuff. 58 00:03:38,415 --> 00:03:39,885 He kind of, he was always super helpful. 59 00:03:39,885 --> 00:03:43,005 He would always just kind of grab everything and go. 60 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:49,350 And, and then he went off in his car and he ended up actually getting locked 61 00:03:49,350 --> 00:03:50,850 out of his car at a What-a-Burger. 62 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,299 And no, it was a James Coney James Coney Island. 63 00:03:55,590 --> 00:04:00,480 And he, I, I didn't see him after that because he came home real late. 64 00:04:01,079 --> 00:04:07,170 And then I had to go to work in the morning that was in June and then in 65 00:04:07,170 --> 00:04:09,990 July was when everything happened. 66 00:04:10,815 --> 00:04:15,075 So I was at work and my mom called me and told me that she would, they 67 00:04:15,075 --> 00:04:16,695 were going up to camp to pick them up. 68 00:04:17,894 --> 00:04:20,745 And he had called a few days before this was on a Monday. 69 00:04:20,745 --> 00:04:23,745 He had called on Friday and said he felt sick. 70 00:04:23,895 --> 00:04:27,975 And of course I was, uh, just starting nursing school. 71 00:04:27,975 --> 00:04:30,495 So I was like, thinking about everything. 72 00:04:30,495 --> 00:04:31,815 I was like, Oh, what could it be? 73 00:04:31,815 --> 00:04:35,925 What, you know, I was like, Oh, he's, he's sick. 74 00:04:36,435 --> 00:04:37,395 He had a headache. 75 00:04:38,025 --> 00:04:41,195 So I was kind of giving him my advice. 76 00:04:41,219 --> 00:04:42,599 Oh, just take some ibuprofen. 77 00:04:42,599 --> 00:04:45,060 This, it was just flu, like symptoms really. 78 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:50,430 So then on Monday was when the camp called my parents and 79 00:04:50,430 --> 00:04:52,020 told them to come pick him up. 80 00:04:53,340 --> 00:04:56,280 So I was at work and my mom said that they were going to pick thim up. 81 00:04:56,310 --> 00:05:01,109 But at this point we still didn't know that it was going to be as bad as it was. 82 00:05:01,650 --> 00:05:06,780 So they went and when they got there, he was very much, you 83 00:05:06,780 --> 00:05:08,925 know, pretty much unresponsive. 84 00:05:08,925 --> 00:05:14,355 And so, so that's when they called us and when we, they called me and my older 85 00:05:14,355 --> 00:05:18,765 brother, um, and we realized that it was more serious than we had thought. 86 00:05:20,375 --> 00:05:26,855 So I, I was staying, I was with my little sister at the time. 87 00:05:26,855 --> 00:05:27,815 She was 10. 88 00:05:27,965 --> 00:05:29,315 I was 20 years old. 89 00:05:30,545 --> 00:05:34,565 So I was staying with her and we were at some other friend's house. 90 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:41,160 And I remember my mom called me and she said, we are going 91 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:42,360 to be transferred to Houston. 92 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:43,710 He's going to be life-flighted. 93 00:05:44,340 --> 00:05:45,720 So I'm coming home. 94 00:05:46,170 --> 00:05:51,330 If you want to meet me at home, and then we can go to the hospital and then we'd 95 00:05:51,330 --> 00:05:53,760 left my, my sister with our friends. 96 00:05:55,020 --> 00:06:00,060 So it wasn't till three in the morning that he actually got to the hospital. 97 00:06:01,365 --> 00:06:01,784 Yes. 98 00:06:01,784 --> 00:06:05,924 And I, and at that point, thought it was meningitis. 99 00:06:05,924 --> 00:06:10,604 They were treating him for just a regular meningitis, which is, which 100 00:06:10,604 --> 00:06:12,854 is what typically happens, I think. 101 00:06:13,094 --> 00:06:13,575 Yes. 102 00:06:14,445 --> 00:06:14,984 Um, 103 00:06:15,015 --> 00:06:15,255 Steve Smelski: yeah 104 00:06:15,794 --> 00:06:18,555 Bethany Adams: So that was Monday night and then Tuesday was when they 105 00:06:18,555 --> 00:06:25,395 actually did further testing and found that he had an amoeba in his brain. 106 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:35,580 So at that point, um, I think they had kind of told us that this is there's, 107 00:06:35,580 --> 00:06:37,470 there's not much else that they can do. 108 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:39,420 And... 109 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:41,400 Steve Smelski: yeah, 110 00:06:41,490 --> 00:06:44,040 Bethany Adams: I think throughout Monday night there was still a lot of, 111 00:06:44,670 --> 00:06:51,870 a lot of hope, but then Tuesday was when we realized, so I, I would say 112 00:06:51,870 --> 00:06:58,469 that whole thing was kind of a blur. 113 00:06:58,770 --> 00:07:04,650 Some of, some of it's a little bit blurry in my memory and I, and I don't, I think 114 00:07:04,650 --> 00:07:09,870 this is, I don't know if this is more of a sibling thing or if this is just 115 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:17,400 me as an individual personality wise, I did not really want to go into the room. 116 00:07:18,159 --> 00:07:21,030 I, it was really hard for me to see him like that. 117 00:07:21,450 --> 00:07:23,690 And as it would be for anyone. 118 00:07:24,109 --> 00:07:27,690 But I didn't spend much time in the actual hospital room. 119 00:07:27,690 --> 00:07:32,940 I spent my time out in the lobby and I, I spent a lot of time talking to his friends 120 00:07:32,940 --> 00:07:35,310 and we had a lot of people come through. 121 00:07:35,310 --> 00:07:44,250 And I think that was the best thing for me at that time was just to, just to really 122 00:07:44,250 --> 00:07:50,730 like to greet the people that came to, to show their support and then, uh, to just. 123 00:07:52,890 --> 00:08:00,760 Also, let them be a comforting presence for me. 124 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:04,050 And so that I could also be there for my parents. 125 00:08:05,790 --> 00:08:11,010 I do remember something just individually impactful there was a nurse there 126 00:08:11,010 --> 00:08:16,380 that was, I told her that I was in nursing school and I remember her 127 00:08:17,130 --> 00:08:20,010 sitting down and spending so much time. 128 00:08:21,030 --> 00:08:24,480 I mean, and now being a nurse myself, realizing like what 129 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,219 a sacrifice that was for her. 130 00:08:26,219 --> 00:08:32,909 She spent some very individual time with me talking to me about becoming a 131 00:08:32,909 --> 00:08:39,059 nurse, but also just talking me through what I was experiencing in that moment. 132 00:08:39,429 --> 00:08:44,280 That was really impactful for me individually in my, in my 133 00:08:45,030 --> 00:08:46,950 journey of life and in my career. 134 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,300 So he did pass away on Wednesday. 135 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:57,450 And I remember at that moment, I was like, I can't, what do I do? 136 00:08:57,450 --> 00:08:59,820 I can't, I can't go back to college. 137 00:08:59,850 --> 00:09:03,780 Cause I felt a lot of responsibility for my parents. 138 00:09:03,780 --> 00:09:09,420 I, there was a lot of fear there about what is this gonna do to my parents? 139 00:09:11,610 --> 00:09:13,410 What's it gonna do to them individually? 140 00:09:13,410 --> 00:09:16,605 What's it going to do to them together? 141 00:09:16,605 --> 00:09:18,584 What, what does this look like? 142 00:09:18,584 --> 00:09:24,704 I think that was one of my greatest fears as it was all 143 00:09:24,704 --> 00:09:28,694 happening, you know, is it going to completely destroy them as people? 144 00:09:28,694 --> 00:09:32,025 Like, are they going to be the same parents that I've known? 145 00:09:33,285 --> 00:09:38,775 And then also I was worried about my sister because she was 10 years old. 146 00:09:38,775 --> 00:09:40,485 She was a lot younger than the rest of us. 147 00:09:40,485 --> 00:09:48,150 So how, how does that look for a child to go through this and 148 00:09:48,150 --> 00:09:49,500 how's it going to affect her. 149 00:09:50,250 --> 00:09:53,310 And I think that was one of the hardest things too, because we had to 150 00:09:53,310 --> 00:10:01,020 go home and, and tell her on Tuesday, we had to go home and tell my sister. 151 00:10:01,020 --> 00:10:03,630 And I don't know that she really fully understood what was going 152 00:10:03,630 --> 00:10:07,500 on, uh, before we went and had that conversation with her. 153 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:13,140 So that sticks out in my mind is the hardest moment in all of it. 154 00:10:13,845 --> 00:10:15,585 I was going to tell my sister. 155 00:10:16,125 --> 00:10:18,225 Steve Smelski: So she didn't have any idea then, right? 156 00:10:19,245 --> 00:10:22,485 Bethany Adams: She, no, I don't think she knew how bad it was. 157 00:10:23,745 --> 00:10:27,285 And I don't think we knew how to include her on that. 158 00:10:28,175 --> 00:10:29,975 Marshall Adler: You were very close in age to Hudson. 159 00:10:29,975 --> 00:10:30,425 Am I correct? 160 00:10:30,425 --> 00:10:31,565 You were a year apart? 161 00:10:32,345 --> 00:10:33,575 Bethany Adams: Yes, we were a year and a half. 162 00:10:33,605 --> 00:10:33,845 Yep. 163 00:10:34,595 --> 00:10:38,045 Marshall Adler: So where you really close to Nate, but close to him 164 00:10:38,195 --> 00:10:40,385 also from a relationship standpoint. 165 00:10:41,130 --> 00:10:41,820 Bethany Adams: Yes. 166 00:10:41,910 --> 00:10:42,270 Yes. 167 00:10:42,270 --> 00:10:44,520 And we had kind of been developing that. 168 00:10:44,550 --> 00:10:52,500 Uh, I had, I had graduated high school two years before in 2014 and I held the, 169 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:56,910 saved up a bunch of money for us to go and me and him to go travel to France. 170 00:10:57,900 --> 00:11:02,070 And that is one of my, I think that was a real, we kind of developed a 171 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,490 relationship throughout high school because we started, like I said earlier, 172 00:11:05,490 --> 00:11:09,660 we started to really feel like we were in the same life stage at that point. 173 00:11:10,035 --> 00:11:12,605 Oh, once we both were in high school, he was a freshman. 174 00:11:12,625 --> 00:11:13,665 I was a junior. 175 00:11:14,655 --> 00:11:22,065 And then that trip was a really, really impactful trip for our relationship. 176 00:11:22,095 --> 00:11:26,205 And I mean, it gave us so much to talk about over those next two years, we were 177 00:11:26,205 --> 00:11:30,405 always talking about our trip and always talking about the memories that we had. 178 00:11:30,405 --> 00:11:32,775 Cause we spent there, we spent a month there together. 179 00:11:32,955 --> 00:11:33,465 So..... 180 00:11:34,965 --> 00:11:38,705 Marshall Adler: you went to France together for a month while the two of you. 181 00:11:39,045 --> 00:11:39,675 Bethany Adams: Yes. 182 00:11:40,525 --> 00:11:41,315 Marshall Adler: How old were you then? 183 00:11:41,315 --> 00:11:41,995 You were, 9.... 184 00:11:42,555 --> 00:11:43,205 Bethany Adams: I was 18. 185 00:11:43,205 --> 00:11:43,735 Marshall Adler: 18? 186 00:11:43,735 --> 00:11:45,245 Bethany Adams: And he was 17 Yeah. 187 00:11:45,635 --> 00:11:46,725 Marshall Adler: You do this by yourself. 188 00:11:46,965 --> 00:11:47,295 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 189 00:11:47,855 --> 00:11:50,255 So we wish we went and stayed. 190 00:11:50,255 --> 00:11:52,355 So our family hosted exchange students. 191 00:11:52,775 --> 00:11:56,675 And so we had hosted a student from over there and so their family 192 00:11:56,675 --> 00:11:58,084 invited us to come stay with them. 193 00:11:58,265 --> 00:11:59,885 So we went on vacation with them. 194 00:11:59,885 --> 00:12:00,245 We. 195 00:12:01,020 --> 00:12:01,530 Steve Smelski: Oh, wow. 196 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,350 Bethany Adams: Yeah, we had, we had a blast . One of our best memories ever 197 00:12:05,740 --> 00:12:06,219 Marshall Adler: With France. 198 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,479 Was that in the city or a rural area? 199 00:12:09,979 --> 00:12:12,800 Bethany Adams: Yeah, so we went to Paris. 200 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:13,699 That's where they live. 201 00:12:13,699 --> 00:12:17,089 So we were there for a couple of weeks and then for two weeks we went 202 00:12:17,089 --> 00:12:22,130 to the North, we went to Brittany and that's where they, uh, they go 203 00:12:22,130 --> 00:12:28,635 for their summer vacations and it's, uh, beach and it was, it was a dream. 204 00:12:28,665 --> 00:12:29,025 So 205 00:12:29,675 --> 00:12:30,425 .... Marshall Adler: that's incredible. 206 00:12:30,425 --> 00:12:34,025 You did this obviously thinking you would have a long life 207 00:12:34,025 --> 00:12:35,805 together as brother and sister. 208 00:12:35,945 --> 00:12:36,075 Bethany Adams: Yes 209 00:12:36,205 --> 00:12:38,435 Marshall Adler: Never thinking that. 210 00:12:38,704 --> 00:12:42,095 Thank God you did this as a memory that you'll have forever. 211 00:12:42,775 --> 00:12:43,515 Bethany Adams: Exactly. 212 00:12:44,135 --> 00:12:44,595 Marshall Adler: Wow 213 00:12:44,655 --> 00:12:48,365 Bethany Adams: You know, I assumed we would obviously do more things like that. 214 00:12:48,425 --> 00:12:51,334 It's I mean, yeah. 215 00:12:51,995 --> 00:12:52,355 I think 216 00:12:52,355 --> 00:12:52,595 that's. 217 00:12:52,595 --> 00:12:53,165 Steve Smelski: You guys. 218 00:12:54,705 --> 00:12:57,720 I was going to say, I was going to say, so you guys really got very 219 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,190 close together then on that trip? 220 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:00,650 Bethany Adams: Yes. 221 00:13:00,860 --> 00:13:01,430 Yes. 222 00:13:02,390 --> 00:13:05,930 That was a big bonding bonding moment for us. 223 00:13:05,990 --> 00:13:06,590 Yes. 224 00:13:07,610 --> 00:13:12,050 Marshall Adler: It's interesting that you mentioned worried about your parents 225 00:13:12,230 --> 00:13:20,450 and about your younger sister, it speaks well of you that you concerned 226 00:13:20,450 --> 00:13:22,970 about your family versus yourself. 227 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:28,260 But before I ask you about how you're doing with everything four years 228 00:13:28,260 --> 00:13:31,250 out now, how are your parents doing? 229 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:35,550 How, how is your youngest sister doing with the concerns you had 230 00:13:35,550 --> 00:13:37,920 when he Hudson first passed away? 231 00:13:38,959 --> 00:13:42,589 Bethany Adams: Yeah, I think it's interesting. 232 00:13:42,589 --> 00:13:48,230 It's so I think it was real, real difficult there for the first two years. 233 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:50,630 I do think. 234 00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:55,590 There were some, some very marketed changes that I saw in 235 00:13:55,590 --> 00:13:59,370 my parents and my, my sister. 236 00:13:59,370 --> 00:14:04,770 It's so hard for me to tell because she isn't, she's been going through 237 00:14:04,770 --> 00:14:06,840 that kind of middle school stage. 238 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:12,630 Now she's a freshman in high school and she's also not, she's not one 239 00:14:12,630 --> 00:14:14,790 that talks about her emotions a lot. 240 00:14:15,150 --> 00:14:19,320 Um, so her age combined with her personality, it makes it hard for me to 241 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,575 know exactly what's going on with her. 242 00:14:23,505 --> 00:14:26,085 And she, she will say things, which is interesting. 243 00:14:26,085 --> 00:14:28,455 You just forget what it was like to be a kid. 244 00:14:29,025 --> 00:14:35,625 She'll say, like, I don't even, I don't remember him that well, which I guess 245 00:14:35,625 --> 00:14:40,095 when you're younger, it's, it's different because if I think about somebody that 246 00:14:40,095 --> 00:14:45,375 died when I was 10 years old, it would be a whole different experience than somebody 247 00:14:45,375 --> 00:14:47,094 that died when I was 20 years old. 248 00:14:49,135 --> 00:14:49,485 Right 249 00:14:49,485 --> 00:14:52,050 So that's, that's interesting to me. 250 00:14:52,740 --> 00:14:58,470 I mean, she remembers him, but just in a very different way than I do. 251 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,910 Marshall Adler: You do talk a lot to your parents and to 252 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,030 your siblings about the loss. 253 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,960 Bethany Adams: Not, not really, not really. 254 00:15:08,990 --> 00:15:11,780 I was telling Steve this the other day. 255 00:15:12,525 --> 00:15:15,975 It's it's interesting because I don't mind talking about it. 256 00:15:16,005 --> 00:15:17,775 I'll talk to my friends about it. 257 00:15:17,775 --> 00:15:19,275 I'll write about it. 258 00:15:19,275 --> 00:15:22,785 I'll share about it, but it's hardest to talk to my family, 259 00:15:22,785 --> 00:15:26,084 Marshall Adler: Why is that? 260 00:15:27,935 --> 00:15:33,905 Bethany Adams: I think, Oh man, that's a good, that's a good question. 261 00:15:33,905 --> 00:15:39,660 I'm trying to pinpoint exactly why I think it's just I'm 262 00:15:39,660 --> 00:15:41,849 scared to bring up that emotion. 263 00:15:41,849 --> 00:15:47,939 Like if I, and again, this is probably a personality thing for me because, you 264 00:15:47,939 --> 00:15:53,099 know, for example, my dad is not afraid of that kind of emotion and delving into it. 265 00:15:53,520 --> 00:16:02,609 I'm a little bit more wary of it and I can almost, if I'm talking to more of 266 00:16:02,609 --> 00:16:09,045 an outside party, I can detach from it detached from the emotional side of it. 267 00:16:09,855 --> 00:16:12,555 If I'm talking to my family, I can't detach from the emotional side of 268 00:16:12,555 --> 00:16:21,255 it because I see their emotion and I it's just too close to, I don't know. 269 00:16:21,285 --> 00:16:23,985 It's, it's, it's more difficult for me. 270 00:16:25,745 --> 00:16:29,795 Marshall Adler: Have you gone to support groups for yourself, either 271 00:16:29,795 --> 00:16:31,295 with your family or on your own? 272 00:16:32,795 --> 00:16:38,775 Bethany Adams: I have not I've done some individual counseling, which 273 00:16:38,775 --> 00:16:40,305 has been really helpful for me. 274 00:16:40,955 --> 00:16:45,885 Just to process things with a completely outside third party. 275 00:16:46,635 --> 00:16:51,385 So that's been really helpful for me and just navigating these last few years. 276 00:16:52,075 --> 00:17:00,705 I would, I would recommend that to anyone, but I also found that my, my 277 00:17:00,705 --> 00:17:05,790 friends were a good emotional support. 278 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:07,540 So we.... 279 00:17:07,819 --> 00:17:10,280 Steve Smelski: were they afraid to bring it up or they actually were 280 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:15,140 pretty good at talking about it with you because we've noticed some of our 281 00:17:15,140 --> 00:17:18,120 friends, they, they won't bring it up because they're afraid it'll hurt us. 282 00:17:18,829 --> 00:17:26,810 Bethany Adams: Yes, I think I had, so I had one friend that I actually wasn't 283 00:17:26,810 --> 00:17:33,405 super close with before everything happened and she stepped in, I mean, 284 00:17:33,405 --> 00:17:37,875 she, some people just know what to do, people know what to do, and some 285 00:17:37,875 --> 00:17:41,475 people don't, and I don't really blame my friends that didn't know what to do. 286 00:17:41,835 --> 00:17:45,405 Cause that's just, I'm really honestly, I'm that person that 287 00:17:45,405 --> 00:17:47,235 don't doesn't know what to do still. 288 00:17:48,615 --> 00:17:49,485 It's interesting. 289 00:17:49,485 --> 00:17:56,385 Like I've had this experience and it makes me better, but naturally. 290 00:17:57,495 --> 00:18:03,435 I am that person that kind of doesn't know what to do and doesn't know exactly 291 00:18:03,675 --> 00:18:09,105 how to help someone, which is, it's just a weird, it's been an interesting 292 00:18:09,105 --> 00:18:16,155 discovery that I've found for myself, but I had a friend who just, I mean, she 293 00:18:16,155 --> 00:18:18,044 was every single day she was calling me. 294 00:18:18,044 --> 00:18:19,215 She would come over. 295 00:18:19,575 --> 00:18:23,625 She would help me so I'm fed, I did decide to go back to college that 296 00:18:23,625 --> 00:18:26,085 next semester, that's kind of where. 297 00:18:27,930 --> 00:18:28,680 I didn't know what to do. 298 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,470 I thought maybe I needed to stay home and be that support. 299 00:18:31,470 --> 00:18:37,320 Cause I was always as a kid kind of felt kind of responsible, like I need to, 300 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,350 I need to make sure everybody's okay. 301 00:18:40,980 --> 00:18:42,900 That was just kind of my role in the family. 302 00:18:42,900 --> 00:18:47,760 That was, um, very much a peacemaker be to make sure everybody's at peace. 303 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:48,930 Everybody's okay. 304 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,150 Everybody's getting along with each other. 305 00:18:51,794 --> 00:18:55,965 So I felt like I needed to do that, but I got some, a lot of outside advice 306 00:18:55,965 --> 00:18:57,495 and they were like, you do need it. 307 00:18:57,495 --> 00:19:00,385 It would probably be best for you to go back to college. 308 00:19:02,865 --> 00:19:08,044 You know and not that it's different for everyone, but just people that knew me 309 00:19:09,064 --> 00:19:15,485 were saying this for you individually, this is probably the best thing. 310 00:19:16,294 --> 00:19:17,675 So anyway, so my friend. 311 00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:20,504 She helped me pack up for college. 312 00:19:20,504 --> 00:19:25,064 Like I didn't, I was like, I can't even like, how do I even begin to do that? 313 00:19:26,294 --> 00:19:31,364 That was the last thing that I could even begin to think about doing. 314 00:19:31,364 --> 00:19:35,925 So she, she helped me with a lot of practical things and she also would call 315 00:19:35,925 --> 00:19:42,554 me every day asking me how I was doing was really, and it was interesting. 316 00:19:42,554 --> 00:19:45,225 Cause like I said, we were, this was not my closest friend. 317 00:19:45,780 --> 00:19:51,060 Before this was, this was someone I just kind of had known and we would meet 318 00:19:51,060 --> 00:19:56,040 up every once in a while, but, but she really, really stepped up as a friend. 319 00:19:56,040 --> 00:20:01,710 And was, was that support that I needed in those first days. 320 00:20:02,460 --> 00:20:03,510 Steve Smelski: Are you guys close now? 321 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:04,710 Bethany Adams: Yeah, yeah. 322 00:20:05,580 --> 00:20:05,879 Yeah. 323 00:20:05,879 --> 00:20:07,320 So then we spent a summer together. 324 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:09,990 We worked together the next summer and now we very much are. 325 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:11,280 Marshall Adler: It's interesting. 326 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:12,419 You mentioned that because. 327 00:20:13,500 --> 00:20:20,129 My son, Matt died by suicide and we're Jewish. 328 00:20:20,190 --> 00:20:26,280 And when somebody passes the Jewish religion, you have 329 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:27,840 the funeral very quickly. 330 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:32,639 And my mother passed away two days after my son did. 331 00:20:32,679 --> 00:20:33,330 Bethany Adams: oh wow 332 00:20:33,419 --> 00:20:36,090 Marshall Adler: So I lost my mother and my son within 48 hours. 333 00:20:36,090 --> 00:20:39,899 So we had to do two funerals, two eulogies, two obituaries. 334 00:20:39,929 --> 00:20:40,949 It was just unbelievable. 335 00:20:40,949 --> 00:20:47,570 Then my best friend from 50 years in Buffalo, who knew my 336 00:20:47,570 --> 00:20:48,679 mother and my son very well. 337 00:20:48,679 --> 00:20:49,730 He passed away too. 338 00:20:49,730 --> 00:20:52,790 So I had three incredible losses within weeks of each other. 339 00:20:52,790 --> 00:20:55,100 So it was just, yeah, unbelievable. 340 00:20:55,129 --> 00:20:57,169 And we knew for me. 341 00:20:57,540 --> 00:20:59,100 I had to be very vocal. 342 00:20:59,150 --> 00:20:59,790 I'm a lawyer. 343 00:20:59,820 --> 00:21:02,670 I like speaking, I guess I it's my job to speak. 344 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:11,610 So I talk to the rabbi and I told the rabbi at the funeral that we 345 00:21:11,610 --> 00:21:18,360 want to be very honest and open about Matt's life, but also his passing. 346 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:20,730 And I found it very helpful. 347 00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:23,159 To talk to people about it. 348 00:21:23,639 --> 00:21:26,100 And for the first two weeks, I couldn't talk to anybody must have had a 349 00:21:26,100 --> 00:21:31,100 hundred emails, voicemails letters, calls couldn't return any of them. 350 00:21:32,629 --> 00:21:35,030 So I couldn't talk standing by for two weeks since then, I'll talk to 351 00:21:35,030 --> 00:21:37,280 everybody and anybody, obviously I'm doing this where anybody 352 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:38,149 in the world could hear this. 353 00:21:38,149 --> 00:21:42,230 I mean, obviously, so I found it very helpful, but I could 354 00:21:42,230 --> 00:21:43,580 sort of see what you're saying. 355 00:21:43,970 --> 00:21:48,379 That I've been surprised on the upside and surprised on the downside 356 00:21:49,129 --> 00:21:54,480 from people willing to step up and sort of help you on that journey. 357 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:59,820 And it's, I'm not judging anybody, but it's just not what you expect. 358 00:21:59,970 --> 00:22:04,950 Have you had that same feeling that you've been on the upside and the 359 00:22:04,950 --> 00:22:06,330 downside, just, just surprised? 360 00:22:06,975 --> 00:22:08,565 Yes, yes it is. 361 00:22:08,565 --> 00:22:10,905 And I think I've talked to several it's interesting. 362 00:22:10,905 --> 00:22:13,425 I've come across since, since this happened, I've come 363 00:22:13,425 --> 00:22:14,895 across quite a few people. 364 00:22:14,895 --> 00:22:19,095 My age that have lost siblings, not on purpose, but just incidentally 365 00:22:19,395 --> 00:22:24,135 people I work with or people in college, anyone I've talked to has 366 00:22:24,135 --> 00:22:26,685 said, said very similar things. 367 00:22:26,715 --> 00:22:30,765 Bethany Adams: You just are surprised who, I mean sometimes comes out of the 368 00:22:30,765 --> 00:22:33,615 woodwork and is just there for you. 369 00:22:34,035 --> 00:22:38,895 And then who you maybe thought was gonna going to be there for you. 370 00:22:38,895 --> 00:22:42,075 And maybe they just have a personality that they don't know what to do. 371 00:22:42,075 --> 00:22:43,515 It's just uncomfortable for them. 372 00:22:44,595 --> 00:22:48,375 And so I've had to learn, okay. 373 00:22:48,565 --> 00:22:51,435 I mean, this is, it just is what it is. 374 00:22:51,525 --> 00:22:52,445 This is who.... 375 00:22:52,975 --> 00:22:53,315 Marshall Adler: Right 376 00:22:53,315 --> 00:22:53,455 Steve Smelski: Right 377 00:22:53,515 --> 00:22:58,065 Bethany Adams: who I can rely on that kind of support from and this is who maybe 378 00:22:58,335 --> 00:23:01,575 that's, I'm not going to get that from, but you know, their friendship serves 379 00:23:01,575 --> 00:23:03,980 a different purpose and that's okay. 380 00:23:05,290 --> 00:23:05,600 But... 381 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:07,680 Steve Smelski: I wanted to go back and ask. 382 00:23:07,770 --> 00:23:11,850 So you talked about how difficult it is to share with the family, but 383 00:23:11,850 --> 00:23:13,980 you feel open to talking to others? 384 00:23:14,010 --> 00:23:20,250 I think Shelly and I are actually easier talking to others about it 385 00:23:20,250 --> 00:23:25,620 and we are taught because I think for us, we both go to that very, 386 00:23:25,620 --> 00:23:27,630 very painful, emotional part. 387 00:23:27,870 --> 00:23:30,930 And you don't always want to go back there. 388 00:23:33,135 --> 00:23:33,825 Bethany Adams: Exactly. 389 00:23:35,025 --> 00:23:35,415 Steve Smelski: Okay. 390 00:23:35,505 --> 00:23:36,585 I was kind of curious. 391 00:23:37,625 --> 00:23:38,705 Bethany Adams: That's exactly it. 392 00:23:38,765 --> 00:23:43,895 I, if I am to talk, like if I were to really delve into it with 393 00:23:43,895 --> 00:23:50,135 my mom or with my dad or with my siblings, it brings me all the way 394 00:23:50,135 --> 00:23:53,495 back to almost what I felt then. 395 00:23:54,245 --> 00:23:57,355 And you kind of just naturally don't want to feel that again. 396 00:23:59,535 --> 00:24:01,875 I mean, like I said, everyone's different. 397 00:24:03,105 --> 00:24:08,685 I think if, like I said, my dad is much more comfortable with that. 398 00:24:09,705 --> 00:24:11,024 He's much more comfortable with that. 399 00:24:11,024 --> 00:24:15,885 And I think if we were more comfortable with it, he would, he 400 00:24:15,885 --> 00:24:17,685 would be happy to talk to us about it. 401 00:24:20,850 --> 00:24:23,760 But I, it's hard to go back to that place. 402 00:24:24,450 --> 00:24:25,560 Steve Smelski: I totallly got it. 403 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:26,230 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 404 00:24:26,690 --> 00:24:28,670 Marshall Adler: It's interesting you mentioned that because I've 405 00:24:28,879 --> 00:24:36,890 said this story a few times before, after Matt passed, I was, 406 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:38,870 I think it was about a year later. 407 00:24:39,260 --> 00:24:46,160 I was in the car waiting to go through a drive-through bank and. 408 00:24:47,084 --> 00:24:54,304 I heard on the radio the funeral for John McCain who died from a Glioblastoma 409 00:24:54,304 --> 00:25:01,955 Brain Tumor and his good friend that gave him his eulogy was Joe Biden. 410 00:25:03,735 --> 00:25:07,354 McCain was a conservative Republican, and Joe Biden was a liberal Democrat 411 00:25:07,774 --> 00:25:09,034 and they were best of friends. 412 00:25:09,695 --> 00:25:11,975 And McCain's specifically asked for Joe Biden. 413 00:25:12,540 --> 00:25:16,139 Because the Glioblastoma Brain Tumor, it's a you know, the 414 00:25:16,139 --> 00:25:18,629 prognosis being a nurse is horrific. 415 00:25:18,990 --> 00:25:21,690 I've had multiple friends of mine die from Glioblastoma Brain 416 00:25:21,690 --> 00:25:23,129 Tumors, just a horrible disease. 417 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,149 And I was in the line. 418 00:25:27,180 --> 00:25:31,410 I just veered off and went over to the parking lot where 419 00:25:31,410 --> 00:25:33,180 I would just turn the car off. 420 00:25:34,410 --> 00:25:40,200 And I knew Biden lost a wife and two children. 421 00:25:41,550 --> 00:25:47,330 And I know this guy knows grief, you know, I'll, I'll just say, I'm, I'm 422 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:48,690 a Democrat, I'm voting for Biden. 423 00:25:48,750 --> 00:25:51,450 So that's an aside, but totally separate. 424 00:25:51,450 --> 00:25:55,980 And apart from that, this guy knows grief and I've always respected what 425 00:25:55,980 --> 00:25:57,540 he said about it and what he said. 426 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:03,780 He turned to the McCain family and he said that he said, I promise you, there 427 00:26:03,780 --> 00:26:10,950 will be a day where the tear in the eye will become a smile on the face. 428 00:26:12,030 --> 00:26:20,460 And that really resonated with me and hit me because my son, Matt was really funny. 429 00:26:21,180 --> 00:26:26,700 He was a really funny guy and he made me laugh for the 32 430 00:26:26,700 --> 00:26:28,050 years he was on this planet. 431 00:26:29,910 --> 00:26:32,399 You know, my mother lived to 93. 432 00:26:32,490 --> 00:26:35,520 My father lived to 91. 433 00:26:36,075 --> 00:26:40,045 So I just assume my son was going to live to them is his 90's, 434 00:26:41,195 --> 00:26:44,165 but yeah, I lost two brothers. 435 00:26:44,825 --> 00:26:46,955 I had two brothers pass. 436 00:26:46,965 --> 00:26:47,885 I didn't know either one of them. 437 00:26:47,885 --> 00:26:52,405 They were very young and I didn't know either one, I was just 438 00:26:52,415 --> 00:26:53,165 two year old, one was older. 439 00:26:53,165 --> 00:26:53,855 He was younger than me. 440 00:26:55,985 --> 00:27:00,335 So my parents talked about losing children, so I knew it could happen, 441 00:27:00,725 --> 00:27:05,040 but again, I never thought it would happen to me because I said my parents 442 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,900 lost children where the odds of us losing a child be astronomically 443 00:27:10,130 --> 00:27:12,180 miniscule, which obviously made no sense. 444 00:27:12,180 --> 00:27:14,280 It's either a hundred percent or zero. 445 00:27:14,610 --> 00:27:15,570 You lost a child or you did. 446 00:27:15,570 --> 00:27:16,230 And it was a hundred percent. 447 00:27:16,230 --> 00:27:17,130 We lost our child. 448 00:27:17,790 --> 00:27:22,890 So when it happened, I obviously was so devastated. 449 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:32,955 And it's something that like last week was the high holidays for the Jewish religion. 450 00:27:33,015 --> 00:27:33,885 It's called Yom Kippur. 451 00:27:34,575 --> 00:27:37,155 And the rabbi they always have a prayer. 452 00:27:37,155 --> 00:27:41,685 It says it's already written who shall live, who shall die for the coming year. 453 00:27:42,615 --> 00:27:45,795 And the rabbit made an interesting comment in his sermon. 454 00:27:45,795 --> 00:27:53,925 He said if five years ago, I told some of you people in the congregation 455 00:27:54,195 --> 00:27:58,095 that have had horrific loss, that this was going to happen to you. 456 00:27:59,310 --> 00:28:01,710 You would have told me I can't go on. 457 00:28:01,740 --> 00:28:03,420 I would never be able to survive that. 458 00:28:03,990 --> 00:28:09,300 And he goes, but you had the loss you have going on and you're survived. 459 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:15,300 So when it first happens, you don't think you are able to survive. 460 00:28:15,300 --> 00:28:19,260 And then when you realize you have to survive as a tribute 461 00:28:19,260 --> 00:28:20,370 to your lost, loved one. 462 00:28:22,005 --> 00:28:25,695 But it sort of changed for me that I know thinking about Matt. 463 00:28:26,325 --> 00:28:32,685 It can take you to that time where you just feel that we're, they have a loss, 464 00:28:32,985 --> 00:28:41,805 but on the other hand, I like the laughter all the funny stories, all the interesting 465 00:28:41,805 --> 00:28:47,895 things he was doing, all the conversations about philosophy and the origins of the 466 00:28:47,895 --> 00:28:53,935 universe and, and the cosmic meaning of some Beatles song seriously. 467 00:28:54,045 --> 00:28:55,305 I don't want to lose that. 468 00:28:55,725 --> 00:28:58,665 And so it's all sort of bundled up in the same package. 469 00:28:59,085 --> 00:29:04,425 So I'm almost saying I'm flying with paying the price when 470 00:29:04,425 --> 00:29:07,455 you get that wave of grief. 471 00:29:07,455 --> 00:29:10,335 Like it just, you know, Steve, I've talked about this before that. 472 00:29:11,670 --> 00:29:15,300 I guess the time goes on, you can tell me more, probably more than I can 473 00:29:15,300 --> 00:29:16,710 tell you, because you're farther out. 474 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,510 The frequency of the waves become less, but the wave height doesn't 475 00:29:21,510 --> 00:29:24,060 change when you, I get hit with a grievance, but over two years now, it's 476 00:29:24,060 --> 00:29:28,560 like it just happened, but I'm willing to pay that price to sort of get the 477 00:29:29,250 --> 00:29:36,810 good feeling of the laughter and the love and the, um, sense of oneness. 478 00:29:37,950 --> 00:29:38,970 That I still have. 479 00:29:39,990 --> 00:29:41,340 Does this make any sense at all? 480 00:29:41,340 --> 00:29:42,870 I mean, do you do to have that feeling at all? 481 00:29:43,310 --> 00:29:44,480 Bethany Adams: It makes a lot of sense. 482 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:50,660 I really, I appreciate that perspective a lot because I think that is, that is a 483 00:29:50,660 --> 00:29:57,830 part that I, with my more natural tendency to avoid going to that place, I do lose 484 00:29:57,890 --> 00:30:06,440 that, that sense of really that sense of just remembering him in a more full way. 485 00:30:07,215 --> 00:30:12,765 Remembering, you know how his sense of humor, remembering the times we 486 00:30:12,765 --> 00:30:18,075 laughed and just having those more clear memories and letting those come 487 00:30:18,075 --> 00:30:24,705 into my mind with that, like you said, it goes together, you really remember 488 00:30:24,705 --> 00:30:29,985 the joy and then you feel the pain because, because the joy was so good. 489 00:30:30,775 --> 00:30:31,665 Marshall Adler: RIght 490 00:30:31,919 --> 00:30:34,200 Bethany Adams: So it makes, that makes a lot of sense. 491 00:30:35,629 --> 00:30:45,080 Marshall Adler: How have you been able to talk to other people that lost siblings? 492 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:51,080 Because you know, my, my son, David had a real interesting comment. 493 00:30:51,290 --> 00:30:53,240 He lost his brother, just like you did. 494 00:30:53,780 --> 00:30:58,350 And he said that he knows when parents lose a child. 495 00:30:59,220 --> 00:31:03,990 The natural inclination is to give all the sympathy to the parents 496 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:11,190 and the sibling hopefully will live decades longer than the parents. 497 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:17,430 And we'll be grieving this loss decades longer than the parents. 498 00:31:18,030 --> 00:31:24,870 And also, you know, he mentioned that he would love to have his children meet. 499 00:31:25,230 --> 00:31:28,710 Is really, he's not married, doesn't have children, but in the future 500 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:31,290 to meet his really funny brother. 501 00:31:31,290 --> 00:31:35,370 And they're funny, uncle Matt, because he'd be a great uncle, 502 00:31:35,430 --> 00:31:38,460 he'd be loving, he'd be hilarious. 503 00:31:38,730 --> 00:31:44,550 And he'd be a good time uncle to have, and that's never going to happen. 504 00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:49,380 And that is something that I think siblings who lost 505 00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:53,429 siblings would connect with it. 506 00:31:53,439 --> 00:31:54,450 Am I right about that? 507 00:31:55,250 --> 00:31:55,820 Bethany Adams: Absolutely. 508 00:31:55,820 --> 00:32:00,030 I think the way I've heard it phrase, it's a loss of an entire lifetime. 509 00:32:00,030 --> 00:32:03,409 You just assume that you're going to have an entity know, especially 510 00:32:03,409 --> 00:32:07,580 with the sibling that's as close in age as Hudson was to me, you assume 511 00:32:07,580 --> 00:32:12,200 that you're going to go through these stages of life together and that yeah. 512 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:17,060 That your kids are gonna know, you know, have him as an uncle and I'm going to 513 00:32:17,060 --> 00:32:19,399 be an aunt to his nieces and nephew. 514 00:32:19,460 --> 00:32:23,520 I mean, to his kids anD uh, yeah. 515 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:26,460 And to traveling, you know, that's another thing, cause I really did. 516 00:32:26,460 --> 00:32:28,100 I enjoyed traveling with him. 517 00:32:28,620 --> 00:32:31,629 There were a lot of things that we enjoy doing together. 518 00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:36,390 So it it's, it's, it's not something you think about maybe 519 00:32:36,390 --> 00:32:39,180 even less so than, uh, I don't know. 520 00:32:39,180 --> 00:32:43,500 It's, I've never been a parent, so I, I can't speak for parents, but I 521 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:48,510 would assume that siblings probably think even less of the possibility of 522 00:32:48,510 --> 00:32:53,250 losing their perfectly healthy sibling. 523 00:32:54,650 --> 00:32:55,160 Marshall Adler: Right. 524 00:32:55,700 --> 00:32:57,380 Do you talk to your parents about that at all? 525 00:32:59,570 --> 00:33:04,880 About the loss of what you expect it to happen, but won't happen 526 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:08,510 now because of the passing. 527 00:33:09,110 --> 00:33:14,700 I mean, it's, it's like the loss of realized potential, you 528 00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:15,990 know, everybody's got potential. 529 00:33:15,990 --> 00:33:19,320 Some people realize that some people don't and when you have a child 530 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,700 or brother or whatever, you just see, well, this is the potential. 531 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:28,530 And you want to see how life turns out to see where their potentials resets. 532 00:33:28,860 --> 00:33:30,390 So by life sort of fascinating. 533 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:35,830 And when you lose somebody, you don't even get to experience that. 534 00:33:36,460 --> 00:33:36,640 Bethany Adams: Yeah 535 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:41,415 Marshall Adler: And as a parent, That is a huge factor for me because I, 536 00:33:42,975 --> 00:33:44,685 again, Steve and I become very close. 537 00:33:46,574 --> 00:33:47,834 We both lost sons. 538 00:33:48,604 --> 00:33:55,215 Jordan was 11 and Matt was 32 and I did see Matt turned into a man. 539 00:33:55,425 --> 00:33:58,514 He lived a full life. 540 00:33:58,574 --> 00:34:03,645 It was just too darn short, where unfortunately, Jordan 541 00:34:04,064 --> 00:34:06,764 didn't have that opportunity. 542 00:34:07,334 --> 00:34:11,445 So, as a parent, I really feel that you talk to your parents about that 543 00:34:11,445 --> 00:34:15,134 at all, about your sense of loss from the standpoint of a sibling 544 00:34:16,395 --> 00:34:18,855 potential that will not be realized. 545 00:34:20,045 --> 00:34:22,264 Bethany Adams: Yeah, I think, you know, I, I don't know that 546 00:34:22,264 --> 00:34:24,784 I've had any extended co I've. 547 00:34:24,815 --> 00:34:27,275 I think I've mentioned that before to them. 548 00:34:27,784 --> 00:34:30,545 And I do a lot of my processing through writing. 549 00:34:30,545 --> 00:34:37,324 So as you guys know already, and so I do. 550 00:34:37,324 --> 00:34:39,480 I'm an internal processor for sure. 551 00:34:40,279 --> 00:34:44,279 So I do a lot of thinking about that and I have mentioned it to 552 00:34:44,279 --> 00:34:46,049 my parents, maybe not in depth. 553 00:34:46,739 --> 00:34:51,449 Um, but I do a lot of thinking about, I mean, really even imagining him, 554 00:34:51,449 --> 00:34:56,850 like, I don't know, sitting, sitting across from me at the table and us, you 555 00:34:56,850 --> 00:34:58,200 know, what would we be talking about? 556 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:00,210 What would, what would he be doing now? 557 00:35:00,210 --> 00:35:05,295 What, would he be, would he have a girlfriend and what, 558 00:35:06,885 --> 00:35:08,444 what, what would be happening? 559 00:35:08,884 --> 00:35:15,645 And just because we are, we were in such a similar life stage, I can kind 560 00:35:15,645 --> 00:35:17,565 of imagine what he might've been doing. 561 00:35:17,565 --> 00:35:23,295 And it's just, yeah, that's a, that is a hard thing to cope with. 562 00:35:24,705 --> 00:35:29,245 Just, just to know that that, that was lost. 563 00:35:29,845 --> 00:35:29,985 Marshall Adler: RIght 564 00:35:29,985 --> 00:35:34,950 Bethany Adams: And I think I've gone through so many transitions since, 565 00:35:35,820 --> 00:35:39,990 since my brother's death, even over four years, I've graduated college. 566 00:35:39,990 --> 00:35:45,000 I studied abroad in another country and then I have had two different 567 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,100 jobs out of school already. 568 00:35:47,100 --> 00:35:52,080 So I've gone through all these transitions and I can imagine the 569 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,750 transitions he would have gone through and the things he would have done 570 00:35:54,750 --> 00:35:56,190 in the ways he would have changed. 571 00:35:56,190 --> 00:36:00,390 And you know, sometimes I just wish I could just tell them about 572 00:36:00,390 --> 00:36:01,550 what's going on in my life... 573 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:02,070 Marshall Adler: RIght, right 574 00:36:02,070 --> 00:36:06,300 Bethany Adams: or reminisce on our trip or, cause we used to do that. 575 00:36:06,330 --> 00:36:07,470 We used to sit here. 576 00:36:07,860 --> 00:36:12,600 I remember doing it that summer before, uh, before he went off to camp, we 577 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:16,980 sat and we reminisced for like two hours one night about our, our France 578 00:36:16,980 --> 00:36:23,325 trip, just because it was too muc such a memorable time for both of us. 579 00:36:23,325 --> 00:36:28,935 And we did a lot of, we kind of shared a similar sense of humor, just a lot of 580 00:36:28,935 --> 00:36:33,375 observing people and just kind of, kind of finding the funny little things and 581 00:36:34,605 --> 00:36:38,535 in everyday life, especially when you, when you go to another culture, uh, to 582 00:36:38,535 --> 00:36:42,195 another country and you don't speak the language and kind of navigating through 583 00:36:42,195 --> 00:36:44,205 that makes for a lot of funny memories. 584 00:36:44,205 --> 00:36:44,775 So we, 585 00:36:45,805 --> 00:36:46,345 Steve Smelski: I bet 586 00:36:46,755 --> 00:36:46,995 Bethany Adams: yeah. 587 00:36:47,725 --> 00:36:52,935 So you were closer to, uh, Hudson than you were to Benjamin and Noel, right? 588 00:36:52,995 --> 00:36:57,765 So were you two, did you like lean on each other all the time? 589 00:36:57,915 --> 00:36:59,325 How's that been since? 590 00:37:00,575 --> 00:37:05,075 Yeah, I would say maybe I'm close to all my siblings in a different way. 591 00:37:06,395 --> 00:37:10,595 So like there's not one that I, I I'm giving a politically correct answer. 592 00:37:10,595 --> 00:37:15,425 It's not meant to be that, but, but it really, I, I really do feel this way. 593 00:37:16,185 --> 00:37:22,125 Because me and Benjamin were closer when we were younger and now we've gotten 594 00:37:22,125 --> 00:37:26,595 closer again, but for that kind of teenage period where we've got very different 595 00:37:26,595 --> 00:37:31,365 personalities, he likes conflict I don't, you know, those kinds of things. 596 00:37:31,365 --> 00:37:35,985 So it's kind of like a personality clash, but me and Benjamin. 597 00:37:35,985 --> 00:37:38,145 Hudson was always very mellow like me. 598 00:37:38,145 --> 00:37:39,675 So it never was a problem. 599 00:37:40,605 --> 00:37:43,785 But when, when me and Benjamin were younger, we were closer 600 00:37:44,295 --> 00:37:48,795 because we were, we were older, maybe more similar in maturity. 601 00:37:48,795 --> 00:37:52,815 Hudson was kind of a goofy little kid. 602 00:37:52,815 --> 00:37:56,985 And so I guess when we were younger, it was always kinda me and Benjamin 603 00:37:56,985 --> 00:37:58,245 were the older, more mature ones. 604 00:37:58,245 --> 00:38:01,125 And then Hudson was kind of the younger sibling. 605 00:38:02,535 --> 00:38:06,645 And then I would say I'm very, I'm definitely very close with my sister too, 606 00:38:06,645 --> 00:38:08,145 but it's just a different relationship. 607 00:38:08,145 --> 00:38:13,365 It's almost feels a little more sometimes I feel more maternal with her. 608 00:38:13,365 --> 00:38:13,695 Like. 609 00:38:14,615 --> 00:38:16,500 ust because I'm so much older than her. 610 00:38:16,500 --> 00:38:20,430 And I remember her being born and I would take care of her when she was a 611 00:38:20,430 --> 00:38:24,180 baby, you know, just like it's different. 612 00:38:24,630 --> 00:38:24,900 Steve Smelski: Yeah. 613 00:38:25,380 --> 00:38:27,450 Bethany Adams: But me and Hudson were more peers. 614 00:38:28,890 --> 00:38:33,120 We were, we were in the same, really in the same stage. 615 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:40,590 And so I think maybe we related more as far as just life experience and 616 00:38:40,590 --> 00:38:47,880 we related on personality, just how we, how we interact with people. 617 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:52,860 And we were just both kind of mellow kind of easygoing, like, so that's what I mean. 618 00:38:52,870 --> 00:38:54,230 It's really good travel buddies. 619 00:38:54,959 --> 00:38:55,310 Marshall Adler: Wow. 620 00:38:55,740 --> 00:38:55,910 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 621 00:38:56,300 --> 00:38:56,630 Yeah. 622 00:38:57,380 --> 00:38:58,940 Marshall Adler: How do you think you've changed? 623 00:39:00,140 --> 00:39:05,690 Obviously, you know, when you mentioned your parents, I could relate to that 624 00:39:05,690 --> 00:39:11,595 because you know, I've said this multiple times that when you lose a 625 00:39:11,595 --> 00:39:16,484 child, the person that existed before that is just not there anymore. 626 00:39:16,875 --> 00:39:19,814 You can't say, Oh, I lost a child on the same person. 627 00:39:20,444 --> 00:39:25,154 You're not, it's just you, you, you were going to change. 628 00:39:25,154 --> 00:39:26,475 It doesn't mean you can't leave. 629 00:39:26,895 --> 00:39:33,075 Lead a happy, productive, meaningful, significant life, helping people, 630 00:39:33,075 --> 00:39:35,835 helping your loved ones, helping yourself and helping humanity. 631 00:39:37,049 --> 00:39:40,560 And making your life attribute, your lost loved one, but it's different. 632 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:45,990 So I know how it's different as a parent that loses a child. 633 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:47,190 How is it different? 634 00:39:47,190 --> 00:39:52,320 You seem like such a nice person and you do seem very mellow and you're, 635 00:39:52,350 --> 00:39:57,540 you know, we just met 45 minutes ago and I always feel like you're a very 636 00:39:57,540 --> 00:40:01,050 easy person to talk to and very open. 637 00:40:01,350 --> 00:40:06,360 So I don't know how you've changed, but if I I'd be interested in how you have 638 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:09,210 changed since the passing of your brother. 639 00:40:10,130 --> 00:40:10,760 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 640 00:40:10,790 --> 00:40:12,560 So that's, that's an interesting question. 641 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:16,460 I have one, one way that I've changed that I very much can identify. 642 00:40:16,935 --> 00:40:20,924 But before I talk about that, it's, it's interesting losing a sibling. 643 00:40:20,955 --> 00:40:25,335 As in, like I was talking about all the transitions I've gone through since like 644 00:40:25,754 --> 00:40:30,404 in such a transitory period of your life when you are already changing and like 645 00:40:30,404 --> 00:40:39,254 having that as a part of our, a big part of already going through changing period, 646 00:40:39,254 --> 00:40:44,984 you know, it's just, it's just an added, an added part of becoming who you're 647 00:40:46,049 --> 00:40:52,770 going to be, but I think the very, very distinct way that I changed, um, I used 648 00:40:52,770 --> 00:40:58,650 to be extremely focused on my academics. 649 00:40:58,650 --> 00:41:01,080 I absolutely must make all A's. 650 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:02,310 I would just stress myself. 651 00:41:02,339 --> 00:41:06,660 I mean, just really, really stress myself out over that to the point 652 00:41:06,660 --> 00:41:13,560 where I didn't let myself enjoy, uh, it just enjoy life sometimes. 653 00:41:14,205 --> 00:41:17,295 Like I remember my first two years of college before this happened, 654 00:41:17,775 --> 00:41:21,435 it was just like, my focus was just different in general. 655 00:41:21,435 --> 00:41:24,855 My, my view on life, it was like, I need to be successful and I need to 656 00:41:24,855 --> 00:41:30,175 achieve, and I need to, to make all A's and it was kind of the end all be all. 657 00:41:30,695 --> 00:41:31,275 Marshall Adler: mmhmm 658 00:41:32,785 --> 00:41:36,015 Bethany Adams: And I don't think that I completely didn't have any other 659 00:41:36,045 --> 00:41:41,415 values in my life, but it's just, that just felt really important. 660 00:41:42,375 --> 00:41:44,775 And I think this, this happening. 661 00:41:44,805 --> 00:41:48,855 I mean, of course I still, still wanted to do well, but I realized 662 00:41:48,855 --> 00:41:55,175 like, who cares if I make a, B you know, like life is to be enjoyed. 663 00:41:56,095 --> 00:41:56,515 Marshall Adler: RIght 664 00:41:56,685 --> 00:41:57,855 Bethany Adams: You know, what's, what's the point. 665 00:41:57,855 --> 00:42:02,295 If I'm just, I come home for C and I remember the spring break before 666 00:42:02,295 --> 00:42:08,295 he, you know, I have a lot of regrets about this.He was playing baseball. 667 00:42:08,295 --> 00:42:09,495 And I remember I miss out on him. 668 00:42:09,654 --> 00:42:10,634 I didn't do anything. 669 00:42:10,665 --> 00:42:14,055 I came home and I studied for a week. 670 00:42:14,085 --> 00:42:18,525 I didn't, I didn't even try to spend time with anyone. 671 00:42:18,525 --> 00:42:22,395 I just was like, I need to study and looking back, I, I can tell 672 00:42:22,395 --> 00:42:26,265 you that I did not need to do that, but that I just felt so important. 673 00:42:26,265 --> 00:42:27,345 That was my priority. 674 00:42:27,345 --> 00:42:29,504 And so I think my priorities changed. 675 00:42:29,865 --> 00:42:32,234 My priorities have shifted to, okay. 676 00:42:32,234 --> 00:42:37,125 If something is taking me completely away from being able to enjoy life, being 677 00:42:37,125 --> 00:42:43,305 able to spend quality time with people and being able to go on trips, you know, 678 00:42:43,305 --> 00:42:48,165 like I just got, went on and be out in nature and all those things that really, 679 00:42:48,555 --> 00:42:53,565 you know, I think at the end of your life, You look back on that and you, 680 00:42:53,605 --> 00:43:01,185 you don't regret that, but you do regret maybe the times where you neglected that. 681 00:43:02,495 --> 00:43:07,725 Anyway, I just think all of those things are really I've my focus has 682 00:43:07,725 --> 00:43:15,795 really shifted to being more focused on what are the things that are going 683 00:43:15,795 --> 00:43:23,460 to make my life meaningful versus just what's going to make me look good. 684 00:43:24,240 --> 00:43:29,370 Basically, basically, that was kind of my focus at that point in my life and in high 685 00:43:29,370 --> 00:43:31,290 school too, I was very achievement driven. 686 00:43:32,340 --> 00:43:38,100 So the next two years of college, I actually found, I just enjoyed myself so 687 00:43:38,100 --> 00:43:47,150 much more because I just had a different perspective So and I had just, I was able 688 00:43:47,150 --> 00:43:56,310 to let myself, let go of like, I need to do everything perfectly because I, I guess 689 00:43:56,310 --> 00:44:01,830 I realized that's not what, what matters, like looking back me coming home and 690 00:44:01,830 --> 00:44:04,440 spending the whole spring break studying. 691 00:44:05,490 --> 00:44:11,040 I regret that, I regret doing that instead of just letting myself 692 00:44:11,970 --> 00:44:15,060 enjoy some time with my family and go to my brother's baseball games. 693 00:44:15,060 --> 00:44:16,410 And so.... 694 00:44:17,850 --> 00:44:20,730 Marshall Adler: it's interesting you mentioned that because, you know, as a 695 00:44:20,730 --> 00:44:29,460 lawyer, deferred gratification is sort of in our DNA, you know, there's an old 696 00:44:29,460 --> 00:44:32,190 saying that the law is a jealous mistress. 697 00:44:32,955 --> 00:44:34,845 Like, and I didn't make that up. 698 00:44:34,875 --> 00:44:38,325 It's an old, old, old saying because there's always more work 699 00:44:38,825 --> 00:44:40,294 amd I didn't make that up okay. 700 00:44:40,625 --> 00:44:45,004 But my wife wouldn't like that, but there's always more work to do. 701 00:44:45,694 --> 00:44:51,814 There's always another case to deal with an I've seen lawyers work seven days 702 00:44:51,814 --> 00:44:55,745 a week in the office working at night. 703 00:44:55,865 --> 00:45:00,305 And I decided I went to law school at Duke , Duke law school. 704 00:45:01,004 --> 00:45:04,725 Very intense place, great basketball, but very intense. 705 00:45:05,805 --> 00:45:06,944 I ended up loving it there. 706 00:45:07,185 --> 00:45:13,935 And like you, I sort of reached the point where I said, I'll do the best I 707 00:45:13,935 --> 00:45:20,790 can, but I can't defer gratification, because again, nobody on their death 708 00:45:20,790 --> 00:45:24,690 bed is going to say, boy, I wish I put more hours in the office who cares? 709 00:45:24,810 --> 00:45:25,740 It's irrelevant. 710 00:45:25,770 --> 00:45:26,670 All that money. 711 00:45:26,670 --> 00:45:27,750 It's transitory. 712 00:45:28,110 --> 00:45:29,520 You're not taking it with you. 713 00:45:29,970 --> 00:45:33,120 The most important thing are not things, it's time. 714 00:45:33,570 --> 00:45:41,490 And when you lose a close loved one, you realize we're all here for a short time. 715 00:45:42,060 --> 00:45:43,590 You better make it a good time. 716 00:45:44,160 --> 00:45:46,350 And you know, I've talked this before. 717 00:45:46,350 --> 00:45:52,290 My father lived to 93, he was a, B -24 Bombardier during world war two. 718 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:57,990 He did 51 missions in the Pacific theater against the Japanese, could 719 00:45:57,990 --> 00:46:02,310 have died , god knows how many times, but he was the happiest guy in the world 720 00:46:03,060 --> 00:46:04,470 because he just was present oriented. 721 00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:08,220 He, whenever he wanted, we went to football games from 722 00:46:08,220 --> 00:46:09,930 Buffalo, big Buffalo bills fans. 723 00:46:10,260 --> 00:46:10,800 I watched. 724 00:46:11,145 --> 00:46:14,595 Bill's game with him, even though it Alzheimer's to the end of his life. 725 00:46:14,625 --> 00:46:15,345 And he loved it. 726 00:46:15,345 --> 00:46:17,715 It was just time to watch the Bills. 727 00:46:17,985 --> 00:46:19,035 Let's watch the game. 728 00:46:19,935 --> 00:46:21,165 Everything else was irrelevant. 729 00:46:21,435 --> 00:46:22,665 Just have fun with the game. 730 00:46:23,265 --> 00:46:26,865 And he knew he was dying from Alzheimer's, but that wouldn't 731 00:46:26,865 --> 00:46:30,795 prevent him from enjoying the game because he was present oriented. 732 00:46:31,245 --> 00:46:36,105 And I think there's a illusion and delusion that you can have saying, Oh, 733 00:46:36,105 --> 00:46:40,710 if I do this, this and this correctly and I'm the best lawyer or best nurse 734 00:46:40,710 --> 00:46:44,520 or whatever, then I can deal with these other things and we'll all be fine. 735 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:45,540 I can control that. 736 00:46:45,570 --> 00:46:46,440 It'll be no problem. 737 00:46:46,440 --> 00:46:47,460 I'll get to it when I get to it. 738 00:46:48,450 --> 00:46:50,550 You can't, there's no control. 739 00:46:51,060 --> 00:46:53,160 You didn't know you're gonna lose your brother. 740 00:46:53,190 --> 00:46:53,690 I didn't know. 741 00:46:53,820 --> 00:46:58,710 It was my son, Steven knows to lose his son and that's life. 742 00:46:58,740 --> 00:47:01,500 And, and, and, you know, we're talking to people now 743 00:47:02,220 --> 00:47:04,620 throughout the whole world that. 744 00:47:05,115 --> 00:47:08,265 I've probably experienced that and some people might be listening to 745 00:47:08,265 --> 00:47:13,305 this right now that hopefully they'll understand it may not have happened 746 00:47:13,305 --> 00:47:19,155 to them yet, but it could, and it will like we're in the middle of a worldwide 747 00:47:19,155 --> 00:47:21,255 pandemic and preaching the choir here. 748 00:47:21,255 --> 00:47:27,435 You're a nurse, you know this and you talk about unexpected loss and people 749 00:47:27,435 --> 00:47:31,755 not realizing, Oh, I could've should've would've spent more time with this person. 750 00:47:31,755 --> 00:47:32,685 Cause they're gone now. 751 00:47:33,825 --> 00:47:36,330 That's applies to everybody. 752 00:47:36,330 --> 00:47:40,740 So I think the lesson you learned is a great lesson and 753 00:47:40,740 --> 00:47:41,940 some people never learn it. 754 00:47:42,600 --> 00:47:45,540 And it's wonderful that you have learned as a young age because you 755 00:47:45,550 --> 00:47:49,740 got along, hopefully, you know, healthy life, life ahead of you. 756 00:47:50,130 --> 00:47:55,500 And that's a lesson that will be with you for the rest of your life. 757 00:47:55,500 --> 00:47:58,140 But I think it's a really important lesson to take with you. 758 00:47:58,350 --> 00:47:59,790 So I commend you for doing that. 759 00:48:01,290 --> 00:48:01,830 Bethany Adams: Yes. 760 00:48:02,565 --> 00:48:07,515 So I, I am very thankful to have to have learned that lesson. 761 00:48:07,515 --> 00:48:13,905 Cause I just, I look back on, on how I was before and how kind of miserable I 762 00:48:13,905 --> 00:48:17,255 would make myself over trying to achieve. 763 00:48:17,255 --> 00:48:17,465 And 764 00:48:18,235 --> 00:48:18,585 Marshall Adler: RIght 765 00:48:19,495 --> 00:48:21,945 Bethany Adams: I think I could, I could still be like that with my 766 00:48:21,945 --> 00:48:24,915 job, you know, working a lot of overtime or just trying to make 767 00:48:24,915 --> 00:48:27,795 more money or whatever it is, but... 768 00:48:29,005 --> 00:48:30,195 Marshall Adler: You know my father. 769 00:48:32,174 --> 00:48:33,165 It just was a funny guy. 770 00:48:33,165 --> 00:48:37,845 And I remember on my first year in law school, I just told 771 00:48:37,845 --> 00:48:41,265 my dad, I said, I hate this. 772 00:48:41,265 --> 00:48:43,585 I'm just working 24/7. 773 00:48:44,145 --> 00:48:47,654 And I go, is this what I'm gonna do for the next 60 years? 774 00:48:48,165 --> 00:48:53,085 And he goes, don't work 24/7, do the best you can. 775 00:48:53,774 --> 00:48:57,975 And as long as you don't throw you out, don't worry about it. 776 00:48:58,544 --> 00:49:01,064 And as it turns out, nobody gets thrown out of law school. 777 00:49:01,064 --> 00:49:04,904 If you do any type of work that they ask you to do. 778 00:49:05,564 --> 00:49:12,194 And he said, he goes, you know where you end up with your class ranking, who cares? 779 00:49:12,375 --> 00:49:15,585 It's like I practiced for 40 years. 780 00:49:16,650 --> 00:49:19,410 Nobody asked me, where was my class ranking? 781 00:49:19,890 --> 00:49:21,660 Can I help them with their problem. 782 00:49:22,350 --> 00:49:25,920 With you at the hospital to some patients say, well, what did 783 00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:27,220 you get in biochemistry grade? 784 00:49:27,760 --> 00:49:28,900 Bethany Adams: hahahaah Right, No, 785 00:49:28,900 --> 00:49:29,870 Marshall Adler: Nobody cares. 786 00:49:29,870 --> 00:49:32,270 Nobody knows you're there, there to help people. 787 00:49:32,660 --> 00:49:37,340 And I think that's the lesson to learn. 788 00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:40,730 And when you lose a loved one, I think you realize. 789 00:49:41,820 --> 00:49:45,690 You're the most important things in life are not things it's loved ones in time. 790 00:49:47,820 --> 00:49:48,720 Bethany Adams: Exactly right. 791 00:49:50,630 --> 00:49:51,140 Steve Smelski: Amen. 792 00:49:52,009 --> 00:49:56,919 So Bethany, your dad sent me a link to a song that you wrote. 793 00:49:57,220 --> 00:49:57,640 Bethany Adams: mmmhmm 794 00:49:58,210 --> 00:50:01,130 Steve Smelski: I actually sat right there and watched it three times righ in a 795 00:50:01,130 --> 00:50:07,340 row because the camera is focused on you and Hudson's in the background and 796 00:50:07,940 --> 00:50:10,380 you called the song Friend Like You. 797 00:50:11,360 --> 00:50:11,760 Bethany Adams: mmhmm 798 00:50:13,140 --> 00:50:15,520 Steve Smelski: Did you write it about Hudson? 799 00:50:15,980 --> 00:50:16,940 Bethany Adams: I didn't did i what? 800 00:50:16,940 --> 00:50:19,650 Steve Smelski: I, I called, I called your dad back to find out. 801 00:50:19,650 --> 00:50:22,560 Cause I said, I was looking at the look on his face and it was 802 00:50:22,560 --> 00:50:24,780 like he realized during the song. 803 00:50:25,590 --> 00:50:25,820 Bethany Adams: Yeah 804 00:50:25,970 --> 00:50:27,120 Steve Smelski: And so I wanted to ask. 805 00:50:27,950 --> 00:50:31,760 Bethany Adams: Yeah, so I actually, I wrote that song about another friend who, 806 00:50:31,790 --> 00:50:34,940 um, has been a lifelong friend for me. 807 00:50:34,940 --> 00:50:38,150 That was kind of what was on my mind when I wrote the song. 808 00:50:38,895 --> 00:50:44,925 But it's really symbolic, especially watching that video now, it really does 809 00:50:44,925 --> 00:50:48,555 truly feel symbolic to me, of me and Hudson's relationship because music was 810 00:50:48,555 --> 00:50:50,985 another thing that we really bonded over. 811 00:50:50,985 --> 00:50:52,145 He played the guitar. 812 00:50:52,525 --> 00:50:56,175 We both played piano, but I played piano more, more so, and 813 00:50:56,175 --> 00:50:58,565 he was more into his guitar. 814 00:50:58,835 --> 00:51:01,425 So that is something that we really bonded over to. 815 00:51:01,455 --> 00:51:05,355 So to watch that video, to hear the words, and where does that really do 816 00:51:05,625 --> 00:51:11,730 describe you know, kind of our friendship as brother and sister and then to 817 00:51:11,730 --> 00:51:18,690 see us doing something we love to do together, it's really, really meaningful. 818 00:51:20,130 --> 00:51:26,420 So I'm, I'm really thankful that that, that got videoed thankful for my dad. 819 00:51:26,420 --> 00:51:27,730 Steve Smelski: It's a great video 820 00:51:27,730 --> 00:51:27,810 Bethany Adams: Yeah 821 00:51:27,810 --> 00:51:31,589 Steve Smelski: It's awesome, but it, it really took me. 822 00:51:31,589 --> 00:51:35,459 I went back and I called your dad and I said, look at, I think it 823 00:51:35,459 --> 00:51:39,060 was like 48 seconds that said, Hudson's looking at Bethany. 824 00:51:39,120 --> 00:51:41,939 And it's like, he's trying to decide if the song is about him. 825 00:51:42,750 --> 00:51:44,160 I never noticed that. 826 00:51:44,939 --> 00:51:48,720 And so I didn't know if that was the case or not, but I think it dawned on 827 00:51:48,720 --> 00:51:50,319 him as you guys were playing together. 828 00:51:50,689 --> 00:51:50,990 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 829 00:51:51,499 --> 00:51:51,660 Yeah 830 00:51:51,660 --> 00:51:53,980 Steve Smelski: Because it did fit for the two of you as well. 831 00:51:54,190 --> 00:51:56,595 Bethany Adams: Yes and he, it was interesting. 832 00:51:56,595 --> 00:52:01,935 I remember that I remember cause he would come and he would try to like, so I would 833 00:52:01,935 --> 00:52:09,015 be playing, but he would be figuring out the chords and everything, uh, while I was 834 00:52:09,015 --> 00:52:12,585 playing and kind of just join right on in. 835 00:52:12,975 --> 00:52:15,105 So that was always, so it was always a lot of fun. 836 00:52:15,815 --> 00:52:20,115 I remembe having lots of, lots of moments like that. 837 00:52:20,115 --> 00:52:23,045 And he had another friend who played at trombone, so.... 838 00:52:23,225 --> 00:52:24,855 Steve Smelski: Oh wow 839 00:52:24,895 --> 00:52:28,395 Bethany Adams: We would play trombone, piano, and guitar together. 840 00:52:28,395 --> 00:52:34,425 And I remember just, we had, we had some fun times, so yeah. 841 00:52:35,285 --> 00:52:35,915 Marshall Adler: Music's great. 842 00:52:35,915 --> 00:52:39,485 Like that, it's the universal connection. 843 00:52:39,725 --> 00:52:40,155 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 844 00:52:40,155 --> 00:52:40,515 Yeah. 845 00:52:41,105 --> 00:52:45,455 Marshall Adler: It's just, you know, I think about both Matt. 846 00:52:46,650 --> 00:52:49,140 I was a huge Beatle fan, Matt was a huge Beatles fan. 847 00:52:49,380 --> 00:52:50,520 We have connection there. 848 00:52:50,820 --> 00:52:52,200 He had other musical tastes. 849 00:52:52,200 --> 00:52:53,960 I never heard of couldn't get into. 850 00:52:54,370 --> 00:52:54,840 Bethany Adams: "Laughs" 851 00:52:54,920 --> 00:52:59,490 Marshall Adler: Never would like, but we had an intersection our whole lives. 852 00:52:59,490 --> 00:53:02,970 And it's something that you'll have as a memory, which is just wonderful 853 00:53:02,970 --> 00:53:05,670 because I mean, music takes you places. 854 00:53:07,230 --> 00:53:09,870 Emotionally, intellectually it's, it's wonderful like that. 855 00:53:09,990 --> 00:53:11,070 It just transports you. 856 00:53:11,770 --> 00:53:12,460 Bethany Adams: Absolutely. 857 00:53:13,250 --> 00:53:13,830 Absolutely 858 00:53:13,970 --> 00:53:17,130 Marshall Adler: Are you still playing music and writing and singing and doing 859 00:53:18,150 --> 00:53:22,970 Bethany Adams: Well, I haven't been doing as much, uh, writing as I used to do. 860 00:53:23,420 --> 00:53:26,630 Um, but I do, I do like to play the piano a lot still. 861 00:53:26,630 --> 00:53:29,900 I, I played a lot of classical piano in high school and I just 862 00:53:29,900 --> 00:53:31,970 really don't want to lose that. 863 00:53:32,210 --> 00:53:36,839 Cause, cause I just feel like you know, just thinking about like, 864 00:53:36,839 --> 00:53:38,310 okay, what makes my life meaningful? 865 00:53:38,310 --> 00:53:42,899 What, what is going to make, just make for a meaningful life. 866 00:53:42,899 --> 00:53:47,520 And I think, I think of specific things, spending time playing 867 00:53:47,520 --> 00:53:50,234 music is really important for me. 868 00:53:50,234 --> 00:53:54,044 And it, like you said, can really be a connection with other people 869 00:53:54,524 --> 00:53:56,685 being in nature is another thing. 870 00:53:56,745 --> 00:53:57,974 Just being out 871 00:53:57,974 --> 00:53:59,124 Marshall Adler: Yes, Yes 872 00:53:59,365 --> 00:54:02,825 Bethany Adams: These are all my best memories revolve around that or 873 00:54:02,924 --> 00:54:04,645 eating together, eating good foods. 874 00:54:04,645 --> 00:54:04,895 Marshall Adler: Yes 875 00:54:04,895 --> 00:54:08,024 Bethany Adams: That's another one, you know, so I've been thinking more recently 876 00:54:08,024 --> 00:54:14,325 just about what are the specific things that I want to do more of in my life? 877 00:54:15,045 --> 00:54:19,215 And those, those are three that I can really pinpoint off the top of my head, 878 00:54:19,215 --> 00:54:25,455 but music is one that I, it would be easy for me to lose if I didn't, if I didn't 879 00:54:25,785 --> 00:54:31,005 play enough and I don't play enough, really, but I try to keep up with that. 880 00:54:31,715 --> 00:54:33,395 Marshall Adler: I'm almost 40 years older than you. 881 00:54:33,605 --> 00:54:35,855 And I agree with everything you said. 882 00:54:36,495 --> 00:54:38,015 Food ,music, and nature 883 00:54:38,045 --> 00:54:39,135 Bethany Adams: Yeah, hahahahaha 884 00:54:39,135 --> 00:54:41,145 Marshall Adler: are about three of the most important things in the world. 885 00:54:41,145 --> 00:54:41,745 Seriously? 886 00:54:42,045 --> 00:54:42,345 Bethany Adams: Yeah. 887 00:54:42,465 --> 00:54:46,305 Marshall Adler: All these other things, you know the job again, you've got an 888 00:54:46,305 --> 00:54:48,255 important job people depending on you. 889 00:54:48,495 --> 00:54:50,905 I've got an important job people, depending on me, Steve has an 890 00:54:50,925 --> 00:54:54,375 important job, depending on people, depending on him, it's all important. 891 00:54:54,735 --> 00:54:58,680 But it's not the most important aspect of your life. 892 00:54:58,710 --> 00:55:03,270 It is a important part of your life, but you got to realize there are 893 00:55:03,270 --> 00:55:08,070 other things that truly are more important and you gotta put those 894 00:55:08,310 --> 00:55:11,910 on the front burner because the work is always going to be there. 895 00:55:12,180 --> 00:55:17,430 Do the best you can be the best nurse you can help people, but you 896 00:55:17,430 --> 00:55:23,984 want to be eating, having music, and nature in your life, which is 897 00:55:23,984 --> 00:55:25,455 really, really, really important. 898 00:55:26,015 --> 00:55:28,084 Bethany Adams: Yes, absolutely. 899 00:55:28,805 --> 00:55:31,774 Steve Smelski: I'd like to commend you for learning 40 years quicker 900 00:55:31,774 --> 00:55:34,374 than me, and what's really important. 901 00:55:34,374 --> 00:55:34,915 Bethany Adams: HAHAHAAHAH 902 00:55:34,915 --> 00:55:36,555 Marshall Adler: You are quicker on the uptake than we are. 903 00:55:39,544 --> 00:55:40,615 Bethany Adams: Oh man 904 00:55:41,144 --> 00:55:46,865 Marshall Adler: Well, again, I just want to thank you so much for giving 905 00:55:46,865 --> 00:55:48,875 us insight today because for me. 906 00:55:49,680 --> 00:55:50,009 It's. 907 00:55:51,660 --> 00:55:58,230 I was really looking forward to this conversation because you've got a 908 00:55:58,230 --> 00:56:00,700 unique perspective that I don't have, 909 00:56:01,360 --> 00:56:01,540 Bethany Adams: Yeah 910 00:56:01,540 --> 00:56:03,540 Marshall Adler: Plus I'll tell you, I'm not trying to be funny here. 911 00:56:03,540 --> 00:56:07,830 You're an excellent guest, you're very well-spoken and you're very intelligent. 912 00:56:07,830 --> 00:56:10,109 You're very open. 913 00:56:10,140 --> 00:56:17,220 You're very insightful, which is a pleasure for me to hear this because 914 00:56:17,220 --> 00:56:20,609 it's just educating me seriously. 915 00:56:20,970 --> 00:56:25,440 You know, I don't want to keep on learning till I take my last breath. 916 00:56:26,370 --> 00:56:28,410 There's a whole world of things I don't know about. 917 00:56:28,589 --> 00:56:31,140 And this is something I want to learn about. 918 00:56:31,140 --> 00:56:35,279 Obviously I lost my son and I want to learn as much as I can, how 919 00:56:35,279 --> 00:56:36,660 siblings are affected by this. 920 00:56:36,660 --> 00:56:42,350 And having your perspective has really enlightened me a lot. 921 00:56:42,990 --> 00:56:43,470 Bethany Adams: Thank you 922 00:56:43,470 --> 00:56:46,395 Marshall Adler: So I can't thank you enough for willing to open 923 00:56:46,395 --> 00:56:47,805 up and be such a great guest. 924 00:56:48,635 --> 00:56:49,475 Bethany Adams: Absolutely. 925 00:56:49,775 --> 00:56:50,975 And yeah thanks again. 926 00:56:51,005 --> 00:56:56,945 Thank you guys for allowing me a platform to be able to talk about, be able to talk 927 00:56:56,945 --> 00:56:59,435 about this and to share because it's.... 928 00:57:00,095 --> 00:57:04,525 Steve Smelski: the pleasure has been all of ours for having you on and 929 00:57:04,535 --> 00:57:08,005 just coming to share, It's a tough 930 00:57:08,355 --> 00:57:13,725 subject and a tough topic to talk about sometimes you had said before that 931 00:57:13,725 --> 00:57:19,095 you would allow us to put your writing reflections about your relationship 932 00:57:19,125 --> 00:57:21,225 with, uh, Hudson on our blog. 933 00:57:21,495 --> 00:57:22,715 Are you okay if we do that, 934 00:57:22,715 --> 00:57:23,835 Bethany Adams: Absolutely 935 00:57:23,835 --> 00:57:26,145 Steve Smelski: Because I'd like to tell everybody to go ahead 936 00:57:26,145 --> 00:57:27,705 and check it out on the website. 937 00:57:27,734 --> 00:57:30,065 So I think they're going to enjoy it. 938 00:57:30,075 --> 00:57:31,634 Cause I went through it a couple of times. 939 00:57:31,634 --> 00:57:33,015 It was really well-written. 940 00:57:33,585 --> 00:57:35,835 So we'd like to thank you for coming on today and. 941 00:57:36,655 --> 00:57:41,215 Any, any one last thought that you'd like to share with us before we sign off 942 00:57:42,795 --> 00:57:43,935 Bethany Adams: One last thought. 943 00:57:44,955 --> 00:57:49,965 No, I think you know that the conversation, it, it took a turn 944 00:57:49,965 --> 00:57:53,145 that I really, really enjoyed. 945 00:57:53,445 --> 00:57:59,355 Just talking about just the meaning of life and kind of what , what 946 00:57:59,355 --> 00:58:01,964 matters most, and that's something I'm really passionate about. 947 00:58:01,964 --> 00:58:05,384 So that's kind of a you know takeaway that I would want people to have. 948 00:58:05,444 --> 00:58:10,904 It's just, you know, time with people, we talked about music, 949 00:58:11,535 --> 00:58:14,504 food, nature, those kinds of things. 950 00:58:14,504 --> 00:58:15,975 Those, those are what matter. 951 00:58:16,424 --> 00:58:20,115 Um, and I really, I really appreciate that our, that our conversation 952 00:58:20,145 --> 00:58:24,615 that we, we got to talk about that is really important to me. 953 00:58:25,694 --> 00:58:26,174 Steve Smelski: Well, thank you. 954 00:58:26,174 --> 00:58:27,315 Marshall Adler: It's important to me also 955 00:58:27,425 --> 00:58:28,955 Steve Smelski: It meant a lot to me 956 00:58:29,455 --> 00:58:30,495 Marshall Adler: It meant a lot to me 957 00:58:31,345 --> 00:58:32,674 Steve Smelski: thank you for coming on today. 958 00:58:32,705 --> 00:58:36,365 And we'd like to thank everybody for joining us today on Hope Thru Grief. 959 00:58:37,325 --> 00:58:39,785 Marshall Adler: Thank you very much, everybody have a good week. 960 00:58:42,115 --> 00:58:45,625 Steve Smelski: Thank you for joining us on Hope Thru Grief with your cohost 961 00:58:45,805 --> 00:58:47,505 Marshall Adler and Steve Smelski. 962 00:58:48,205 --> 00:58:52,345 Marshall Adler: We hope our episode today was helpful and informative. 963 00:58:53,335 --> 00:58:58,075 Since we are not medical or mental health professionals, we cannot 964 00:58:58,545 --> 00:59:03,825 and will not provide any medical, psychological, or mental health advice. 965 00:59:04,545 --> 00:59:09,705 Therefore, if you or anyone, you know, requires medical or mental health 966 00:59:09,705 --> 00:59:14,885 treatment, please contact a medical or mental health professional immediately.