A Gift for Those Too Sad for Holidays
This poem is for those of you who are having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit because of the loss of a loved one or illness or some other tough thing in your life. I wrote this in 2002 when someone very dear to me was struggling with brain cancer: Christmas does not touch […]
A Sudden Mist of Tears
Today is my dear Mary Jo's birthday. She was eleven days younger than I. Four years ago I turned 78, but she died two days before she turned 78. I saved this story for her birthday. Last week I walked up to buy some cosmetics at the Clinique counter in Macy's. A woman stood at the counter […]
Tribute to My Beloved Friend
It is four years ago today that my best friend and sister-in-law died of pancreatic cancer. As I look at her picture above my desk, I miss her as though it were yesterday. Mary Jo was generous, loving, kind. She worked tirelessly in her church, served countless dinners for Sons of Norway, read for the blind, […]
On Mother’s Birthday?!
(See end of post for special offer.) I meant to post this yesterday, because September 20 is my mother's birthday, but life happened. Anyway, here we are today: September 20, 1995 – Today is Mother's birthday. It is a busy day for me. I have a presentation at 9:00 a.m.. at Southwest Medical Center here […]
Just Stay Positive?
"You will be just fine" has long been a problem for me. No matter what horrendous circumstance one is facing, what one needs is support and validation, not cheer-leading. Discounting a person's feelings and implying that everything can be solved by being positive does a great disservice to the ill or injured or depressed or bereaved. […]
Why Am I Alive? Why Is She Dead? No. 4
The White Horse (for Ann) Death comes on a white horse to carry you away I see the love in Her eyes as she lifts you carefully and cradles you in Her arms You go willingly, eagerly, even though you know you can't come home again (Excerpted from Fine Black Lines (c) 1993, 2003 Lois […]