Sixteen years ago I suffered a loss which I think about daily. Michael and I had met only a few years before that, and had fallen in love very quickly. We had similar values including kindness and mutual respect. Yesterday I re-read the eulogy which his best friend wrote and delivered at Michael’s funeral. InContinue reading “Remembering Michael”
Tag Archives: family
Road trips and reflections
I have been awake since shortly before midnight. Nothing seems to be helping, so I decided to watch a movie. As usual I was drawing some comparisons about my own life, and started contemplating some of my past reactions to conflict. This movie was about a young girl who discovered that her “dad” was notContinue reading “Road trips and reflections”
Facing Fears: Lessons from Lacy
I spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve at my son’s place. He cooked for me, we watched movies, and we took his two dogs on long walks. Then I stayed with Lacy while he spent a few days with Gia out of town. Lacy is afraid of everything; leaves rustling and cracklingContinue reading “Facing Fears: Lessons from Lacy”
Birthdays and fading memories
Two days ago we celebrated mom’s 93rd birthday. A few family members joined for a lunch and cake at the care home. Mom is living with dementia and although she knows who we are when we show up, her short-term memory is extremely short term. In the two minutes it takes to walk from theContinue reading “Birthdays and fading memories”
Road Trip Reflections: A Journey to the East Coast
After 11 days of driving with pauses to visit along the way, I arrived on the east coast at my daughter’s home. I didn’t stop to take many photos especially during the last few days of driving since I was just eager to get to my destination. It was a good trip. Several of theContinue reading “Road Trip Reflections: A Journey to the East Coast”
Foo
Foo has been a member of my son’s family for almost 15 years. On Tuesday Foo joined his best friend, Toffee, to whom I said a tearful and painful goodbye almost 4 years ago. Saying goodbye to a pet was as difficult for me as losing a family member. When asked if I will getContinue reading “Foo”
In memoriam
Fifteen years ago yesterday I married a man who loved me more than I could ever ask for. He had total trust in me, and loved me unconditionally. I doubt if that opportunity would ever come again. At his memorial service his best friend quoted in the eulogy: ‘Tis better to have loved and lostContinue reading “In memoriam”
Loneliness
Yesterday I came to the realization that I have no one I can talk to who can—or will—listen. Dad is gone. Mom can no longer remember, understand or follow a conversation. My siblings tend to judge, or tell me how I should live my life. My children all have huge problems that they are dealingContinue reading “Loneliness”
Space
There are mornings where I can’t sleep in past 5:00 a.m. In fact, most mornings these days I am on my 2nd cup of coffee before the sun rises. The photo above was taken on a particularly smoky morning last week. The wildfires burning in the north sent the smoke our way and helped createContinue reading “Space”
Waiting
We are both waiting. Gia is waiting for her owner, true love, master, food-giver, ball-thrower and only person in her world, to return and sit beside her. I’m waiting for my son to join me for pizza and a drink. (Yes, he is the same person for whom Gia is waiting, although he is notContinue reading “Waiting”
Reflections 