Home is Where the Love is Found

Jamie Curtis Murphy died August 2nd, 2021 after taking opioids laced with fentanyl. Like thousands of other Americans who die from this epidemic each year, she was unaware of the fentanyl in the drugs. No one was brought to justice for her death.
This book of poetry captures who she was in life. Most of the poems were written when she was between the ages of 12 and18. It was the age of discovery for Jamie - falling in love for the first time, becoming a teenager, and finding music and friends that resonated with her own emerging perspectives and beliefs. As a "military brat," Jamie was exposed to many cultures and diverse lifestyles. She was both fearless and loved everyone and lived a life of highs and lows with little in between. When she was happy, she was on cloud nine. And when she witnessed injustice, mean people, and the cruelties of the world, she internalized the pain. She was a talented artist and a National Library of Poetry award-winning poet; and yet, she was also someone who could not overcome her addictions even though she entered several treatment programs, had the support of her family and friends, and desperately wanted to win her battle against the scourge of drugs.
I hope her poetry brings some joy, humor, or good memories to you. If you knew and loved Jamie, I hope her poetry brings good memories to you. If you are just meeting Jamie in these pages, my wish is that you take away some of the joy and good humor that she found in life.