Your birthday was 3 days ago. You’d be 42 years old now. Instead, you’re forever 40. September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. I know I talked about it last year. But I am reiterating my point because I ...
Riley, Lizzy, Ashley, Sonney, and JD on a camping trip at Sue-meg State Park. Photo Credit: Penelope Ray, 2008 It was 2008 when we found them. JD and I were particularly broke that year after losing our home in the ...
No one asks to be part of the reason that there is a day dedicated to grief awareness, especially widowhood. You won’t see “Black Friday”-like lines ensuing chaos to be the first ones to claim the deal of “widow riddled ...
Five years ago, my daughter was still in diapers when her dad died.Today, she put on her backpack, kissed me goodbye, and walked into kindergarten. Five years ago, my son was ten and barely tall enough to ride the big ...
I woke up this morning to the sound of my grandchildren whispering, their bare feet padding across wood floors, stopping just short of the bedroom I was in. I’ve landed at Ashley and Micah’s house, my oldest daughter and son-in-law. ...
Curt died unexpectedly. I was the one assigned to give Sheryl the news soon after. I did what their pastor and neighbors asked me to do. They thought it best if the news came from me. So, I took ...
Today is our 4th wedding anniversary. I should be waking up today to your snores. I should be reaching over and kissing you on the cheek like I did when you were sleeping and you had no idea. I should ...
I opened the door on the second knock and extended a practiced, firm handshake. My hair was pulled back plainly, clothes were modest, and my face was void of both makeup and smiles. I was ready. “Keith Allen, KO Insulation” ...
When I sat down with the salesman, my eyes landed on a bobblehead Spider-Man sitting next to his computer monitor. I’d spent the last hour cleaning out Alice, crying, making fun of myself for crying while sending videos to my ...
During our 24 years of marriage, I never negotiated with the tradespeople who came to our house – the electricians, plumbers, septic guys, realtors. It was my husband, Jay, who spoke to them. I was polite, smiled, shook hands, signed ...