I’ve had a tough week—my second oldest sister passed on January 10th. She was in a wonderful group home in Arizona where she had loving caregivers and excellent care, but I wasn’t there when she passed. She had dementia, and they told me she died peacefully. She just stopped breathing. She was tired and ready and the kind of person who went after what she wanted. I tell you … [Read more...]
Be authentic—it reaps the rewards now and forever
I’m writing this the morning after I attended a dear childhood friend’s Celebration of Life and also heard that my Estes Park friend, who chose in January not to undergo radical and invasive cancer treatment, passed. We all know death is a part of life, but it still hits hard. Two factors contribute: Finality and loss. Death is final—there are no do-overs, and it is a loss … [Read more...]
Death comes to me and you—it’s built into life
April 29th, two days from today, 2022, is the first anniversary of my husband’s (Cal) death. It seems a grieving update is in order. Please remember everyone’s experience and healing after loss is individual. My process is no more correct or messed-up than yours—every path of grief has a story, and this is mine. May it help yours. As minute details of Cal’s cancer and death … [Read more...]
The Bible
While at an estate sale, I was slowly wandering through the house with my hands behind my back, just looking. Estate sales are interesting, a little morbid, and an experience. Most sales happen because the homeowner has died and the heirs employ a company to go into the house, organize, price, and sell everything-even spices from the kitchen and clothes in the closets. Some … [Read more...]
What do you want in your eulogy?
What do you want in your eulogy? We know for sure that we all will die. We don’t get to choose how or when, but one guarantee is that we will. I want you to think about how you want to be remembered after you die. When your eulogy is being read, what do you want it to say? There are hundreds of ways one could be remembered: famous actor; gentle grandparent; best farmer; … [Read more...]