Mother's Day Breakfast 2009 There was a time when I rolled my eyes at Mother’s Day. Another guilt inducing dash around for flowers or some “perfect” thing to show appreciation. Father’s Day was no exception. My dad was the Scrooge of Father’s Day and to this day, whenever I call...
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The Ghost of Mother’s Days Past
21 Years
I try to picture you Waking up, eyes caressing the coppery landscape Arms stretching overhead, mouth forming a yawn as you look over at me and smile A smile of contentment, to which you shake your head in disbelief Twenty one years, Bird. What do you think of that? Maybe you would get up...
...continue readingA Universe At Peace
Missing the moment with my iPhone The bird found himself in my room despite no doors or windows being open anywhere in the house. He flapped around the far window trying desperately to find his way out. I whispered to him. “It’s OK. Stay calm,” as I moved slowly toward...
...continue readingMy Unintentional Life
A shorter version of this piece ran on September 1st, 2011 in The NY Daily News. This same long version also ran in Hello Grief and Mindbodyspiritodyssey.com Arron, Carter and my grandfather on the new dock, Ste. Lucie, August 2001 On that sunny September morning as I was stuffing our daughter...
...continue readingTwelve Years. Where does time go?
Carter, Port Hope, July 2011 Twelve years. Such a short amount of time, and such a lot of life lived. You arrived quickly in true Carter style, determined to be early for your own arrival. Determined. I think that word describes you well. You know what you like and you...
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Olivia and Millie, June 1st 2011 You asked me yesterday if I thought you would ever grow up. I told you I hoped not. You were offended, thinking I thought you were immature, but that was hardly the case. I think you are perfect. I really don’t want you to...
...continue readingAn SMH (Shake My Head) Moment
The kids at Sunset, Maui, February 2011 My life has been a little surreal this week. A TV interview, quotes in various national publications, an Op-Ed published in Seattle Times and as I sit here writing this blog, my photo is being taken for an article about the 10th Anniversary...
...continue readingThe Power of Loss
Richard's Rwanda girls meet FAWE girls Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of the beginning of the Genocide in Rwanda. Olivia has been involved in Richard’s Rwanda IMPUHWE since she was 11 years old and last summer visited Rwanda to meet the girls that they have been helping, an incredibly powerful...
...continue readingPower of Joy
I’ve been reading this awesome book called “Awakening Joy: 10 Steps That Will Put You On The Road to Real Happiness” and this seemed like a good day to write about the main idea that this books talks about, which has to do with taking the time to notice...
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Carl Gussow, "Oyster Girl" Its strange to think I might have been celebrating a 20th wedding anniversary tomorrow. There is a part of me that wonders if there is not some version of me, of Arron living in a parallel universe where he didn’t die, the world didn’t shift upon...
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Learning to live again after the sudden death of my husband Arron on 9/11. I wrote my book, The Alchemy of Loss, as a testament to finding the silver lining of grief and loss, to discovering the defibrillator effect of trauma and its power to awaken us into really living. I now live in Seattle with my two teenaged kids.
