Tag: death
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Holding Tightly; Releasing Eventually
It’s January 7, and our Christmas tree is still up. It’s not artificial; it’s very real. Was once very alive. We’ve had it since November 23–it’s been in our family room for over six weeks. The tree has lost very few needles. It’s quite green, with a wonderful fresh aroma that still fills the room.…
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Merciless Grief, Glorious Grace
Grief is neither a respecter of people, time or expectations. Its rudeness takes us by surprise; its perseverance feels overwhelming. My dear friend Ellis lost his beloved wife Colleen on October 4. She lost her battle with ALS in the early morning hours, with Ellis sleeping beside her hospice bed. She went quietly–much the…
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Fuzzy Lenses Make It Hard To See
I don’t think about how I see things. I just look. I traveled to Chicago with my husband to celebrate Mom’s life with a memorial that family and friends could share in. A time of fun memories and sad realities that make up each of our lives. Mom was no exception. It was a grey,…
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Ashes and Dust
It’s hard to imagine someone’s life reduced to a box the size of a loaf of bread. Mom made her wishes known–she wanted to be cremated. It’s what she’d chosen to do with Dad, and it made more sense to her than buying a plot. This isn’t an argument I will pursue. Some believe a…
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I’m Gonna Wash That Pain Right Out Of My Heart
It’s been a heck of a couple of weeks. We’ve been gone a lot, for a variety of reasons. Things around the house didn’t get done. Cleaning–that tawdry-toilet syndrome that comes from neglected focus; refrigerator surprise–the green things that were never meant to be green; trash–the stuff that didn’t get taken to the curb that…
Tip of My Iceberg 