Crying in the Redding Terminal With a Stranger
She was trying to be out in the world, and the world was just loud and happy and ordering salmon curries and she was GRIEVING. And no matter where you are, or who is there, when you are in that level of grief, it will spill out. And you almost don’t care at who sees it because it just feels right and natural to talk about it all the time and cry with strangers and just be open and raw about how sad it is to lose someone that you love so much. There was a point where I wanted people to see me grieving- just ask me one more question… see how much I am hurting so you can see how much I loved…
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Hey- you need a plan for your Mother's Day. I made you one!
Grief is a real jerk because there is no timeline. Maybe you were perfectly fine celebrating others last year- but this year you have been dreading Mother’s Day for months and can’t believe there is another one.
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10 years since losing Dad today - an eclipse seems appropriate
Even if I’m a little old to be an “orphan”, there are changes when you have no parents in the world with you. You are more of an island, without the backing/love of those that raised you. The people who threw you birthday parties and cared about your SAT scores and helped you buy a tall bathing suit are gone.
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Suspicious of dementia in a parent? start here
MIND Diet salads, grieving a diagnosis and practical steps when you are suspicious of dementia in a family member.
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The after: taking vacations after loss
Grief is still here and comes on vacation with me at times. But I’m at a different stage.
So this summer we traveled. Our bodies left our home and my mind left feeling guilty for this travel. Of course I am lucky to have done this (insert very long list of reasons why it’s a privilege to be able to travel).
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Writing the best eulogy ever- a step by step guide
What’s the matter? You can’t sum up someone’s entire life and love in 3 minutes? Finding it hard to write a full sentence in the throws of physically exhausting grief? Does everything you write seem trite and stupid and not ENOUGH? Ok, then you are on the right track.
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One year without you. Or maybe 5.
“ Do I erase the years of watching her slowly die to get to the deeper memories of her being healthy?”
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Mother's Day without a mother
“I got that quick stress headache that comes when I try to keep in a deep, terrible feeling that is socially unacceptable. How dare I not want their “epic” Mother’s Day celebration? Should I not be wearing a pastel, floral dress and a crown of flowers and receiving gifts with grace and poise?”
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Don't attempt this alone. Just don't.
Practical suggestions and links to other people that can support you as you care for someone with Alzheimer's.
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The Goodbye That I Hated And Needed All At Once
Ug, this is hard to write. My beautiful, soft, kind, loving mom died. The body that held her ran out of energy and time and she slipped away.
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Severe dementia and end of life: stomping my feet in the hopes of some grace
I’m so tired of this disease and feel like there have been so many losses. And yet I feel drained an unprepared to also have this final goodbye- not wanting to pour on more sadness.
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