When tragedy strikes, we retreat to silence. When tragedy strikes, we speak more plainly. Tragedy struck our nation in recent days. It isn’t the first time; more tragic still, most of us fear it won’t be the last. So perhaps it is time for us to talk about love, plainly. To talk about loss, plainly. […]
Spilling Tears
Much was made about President Obama’s shedding of a tear or two last week – first, during a speech on Monday, and a second time the night of the election, when thanking his campaign staff and supporters. It’s rare to see our leaders display the complex emotions that generally generate tears, but not unprecedented. In […]
Mailing to a Dead Woman
A strange mailing. A mystery.
Recovering
Recovery. It’s a term we use when we set out to retrieve something gone missing, hoping to find it. It’s a term we employ following loss or illness, hoping to regain ourselves, battling back – or through – physical and emotional turmoil. We speak of recovery when talking about relationships – the process of […]
Emotions, Friendship, and All Choked Up
When friendships are strained by grief and loss.
Life Story, Cast from Polaroids and Seashells
Writing from objects and dream that touch memory.
Tough Topics for Teens: Dealing With Grief
Talking to teenagers about grief and grieving.
Heartburn, Heartache: Nora Ephron Dies at 71
I didn’t see it in a reader, and I’m glad of that. I heard it from a friend last evening on the phone, and it was a more personal delivery of the news. “Did you hear?” she asked, her voice cracking. “Hear what?” “Nora Ephron died,” she said. I was stunned, and at first thought […]
How Many Ways Can You Break a Heart?
The broken heart… and its impact on health.
Which is Worse – Death or Divorce?
On grieving a lost spouse, a lost marriage, and lost dreams.