Grief Digest Articles

Recently, we experienced a pop-up memory of Chad. We (my husband and I) were driving home and stopped at the signal lights. A shiny beige pickup truck came whizzing through the intersection of the busy street and easily caught our attention. In the bed of the pickup truck was a 3’ x 5’ American flag whirling in the breeze. Simultaneously, Gary and I had an instant pop-up memory to a long ago time, when our son Chad, did the very same thing! I haven’t seen such a display since Chad’s death, …

The ice storm was wicked. Had I wondered through my wardrobe? Was I in Narnia? It was two weeks before Christmas. I glanced in awe out the window. The once mellow branches of the Maple trees, fixed and frozen in ice, smacked the shingles and struck the glass windows with an astounding clatter. Winds wailed and higher branches splintered and crash landed on branches below propelling them downward. No wonder my cats, Mercy and Grace crouched under the down comforter on the bed one minute and …

Today is Sunday. It is one-degree below zero. I sit on the arm of an empty loveseat with my feet tucked under me, snug in three pair of socks. I am cozy, warm and safe in casual sweats, although there will be no sweating today. When I saw you fall, it was on a Monday, hot and humid, the weather you liked best. Today, I am warm and safe but my dear, bird friends are famished and near frozen. I feel as though it is my fault. I gaze at them outside the window as they flutter and fall from the …

As members of the Baby Boomer Generation, we are connected to a large population of people who are often looked upon as influential because of the number of people associated with the group. We are trail blazers, trendsetters and a population of individuals who can dictate which city would be popular for retirees and which financial stocks would make us prosperous. We can create a “fad” because we are in company with so many others. There has been no shortage of articles written lately wit …

In 2007 the United States Congress passed resolutions establishing this day each year, September 25, as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. As are you, I’m glad they did it, but as with you, I ask, “What took them so long to do it?” Well, the answer to that question is more complicated than the usual reasons we hear for the fumblings of politicians. It’s the M word. Murder. People are afraid to say it, people are afraid to talk about it, and people are afraid it will happen …