Friends

A while back, Asher, my oldest son who is six years old, asked "Are angels real?" It was a fastball without warning. "I've never seen one," came my unpracticed response that attempted to be honest without limiting or prescribing reality. But, it bothered me. I'd bunted -- whacking the question far enough away to be … Continue reading Friends

The Turning Point

Photo credit: John Gibbons Unsplash.com Grief encapsulated me. Like a translucent membrane grief separated me and the outside world.It blurred my perspective, muffled everyday chatter and stole my ability to focus. My life was like an old movie reel.  Each frame played without sound as if I was a spectator and not an active participant.I … Continue reading The Turning Point

Waves of Life

Photo credit: Unsplash.com “Life comes in waves,” my mom used to say regularly. “Sometimes those waves last years.”  She was referring to the crests and troughs of life. The ups. The downs. On the downside, her mantra arose from being an only child who was frequently in trouble. It grew when leaving South Africa with … Continue reading Waves of Life

Grief Is Like A Cup of Coffee

Photo credit: Hainy Naibo Unsplash.com Grief is like a cup of coffee. In the beginning, it’s painful to hold and difficult to grasp.No matter how you carry it, it spills everywhere leaving a sloppy stained mess for all to see.  Some days, it’s bitter and leaves an acidic feeling in your stomach. No matter how … Continue reading Grief Is Like A Cup of Coffee

The Void

Photo credit: John Reign Abarintos Unsplash.com Loss left me with a bottomless chasm in my chest. Do you have it too? It begins at the base of my throat and circles down to my ribs. Sometimes it feels like heartburn, an irritation from swallowing a ghastly morsel of life. Other times it more closely resembles … Continue reading The Void

Grief Becomes Mainstream

Photo credit: NBC Studios Remember when Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James was released? Women in bookclubs everywhere were openly talking about passionate sex and deep desires. It catapulted a formerly taboo topic into everyday conversations. That’s exactly what the television series ‘This is Us’ has done with grief.   Grief isn’t sexy. Most … Continue reading Grief Becomes Mainstream

Courage

Many years ago, courage came to me in a dream. And because dreams can be strange and fantastical, it resembled a soap bubble that floated into my open palms.“Courage,” boomed the bubble, infusing me with strength. Who knew how much I’d need it in the years to come?