The first thing that touched my heart about These Moments by Daniel Curran was the dedication to his mother. As a mom of two boys myself, what greater gift than to be validated by your son for all you have done? Throughout the book, this validation continues through vignettes about their relationship and her strength to keep her children safe and well-provided for.
The bond between brothers is also a central theme throughout the book. He writes about their closeness and antics with humor and emotional honesty that most readers with siblings can relate to.
There are significant passages where the author reveals his personal struggles. These are struggles that are or have been relevant to many of us. We watch him grieve personal losses. We find ourselves watching as he tries to decide when to leave home, how to get to where he needs to go, go back to school, search for family roots, and even buy a bike. We watch as he makes these decisions, leaving us with a most uncomplicated approach. “If I don’t like Oregon. I can always return to NYC”. “If I don’t like bike riding. I don’t have to ride the bike.” In essence, take chances and follow your dreams or else you will never know.
These Moments in time, these experiences, demonstrate Daniel Curran’s journey to the present moment of his accomplishments. It is an important book in many ways. It is a book about family, achievements, personal growth, and survival. It is a book about all of us. These Moments inspire us to keep on truckin’, so to speak, in spite of the difficulties we face.
