For awhile now I’ve been wanting to do something special with some of the things I have that were Sue’s or that remind me of her. I really like the idea of giving Szaba a physical place to go when she misses her grandma or wants to know more about her. That’s why I decided … More Memory Box
One year ago, I typed this note on my phone at 11:12pm, a Minnesota blizzard raging outside: “Glistening ice on the window. Dim hotel room. Szaba’s sleepy sighs and swaddle squirms. Laughter of friends and nieces down the hall. Sad and happy, all mixed up. I know Sue is here, and she loved her party. … More Memorial Party Ideas
I’m not going to lie. The one-year anniversary of Sue’s death has wrung my soul out to dry. I’ve watched the clock, wandering through those last hours like the abandoned sets of a movie. I’ve wished. I’ve wondered. I’ve cried. But I know that Sue wouldn’t want me or any of us to spend our … More Mourning
Never underestimate the importance of a good friend. Thanksgiving 2010, I got the call that Ryan and I had to fly back to Minnesota. Immediately. I was taking care of my 3 month old, unpacking from our Thanksgiving trip two days earlier, and putting up the Christmas tree. Ryan was still at work, returning home … More The Essential Friend
This weekend last year we were partying. Ryan and I were visiting Mankato for the first time with Szaba, and Sue had us booked: Day 1: Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with Sue’s dearest friends Day 2: A grand holiday family dinner Day 3: Coffee hour at home with her company friends Given that Sue couldn’t … More The Special Ornament
A few days ago I posted about Joan Didion’s book, The Year of Magical Thinking. Continuing in the spirit of “magical thinking” (and the bizarre of symphonic resonance of my post last week), here are three “magical” things that recently came to my attention, echoing of Joan and Sue: 1. Blue Nights 2. Conversation Through a Closet … More 3 More Magical Things
Last night Ryan and I had a date night at the symphony, triggering a severe case of “magical thinking.” Going to the symphony was a tradition Sue started for us last year. She bought us tickets to six shows for our 2010 anniversary. Sue was such an incredible fan and supporter of live performance. She … More Symphonic Resonance
I finished this incredibly honest and poignant book by Joan Didion yesterday. The title is what lured me in: The Year of Magical Thinking. I’ve certainly had a year like that. I know from the research for my book project, that “magical thinking” is a psychological term often associated with the bereaved. It’s especially common … More Magical Thinking
I’ve decided what my 30-day challenge is going to be. It morphed out of a friend’s Facebook post about 30 Characters 30 Days. That in turn, oddly enough, got me thinking about some self-exploratory art exercises I enjoyed in my favorite pregnancy book, Birthing from Within. It’s an odd combo, for sure, but inspiration is like that. … More New Perspective
I remember hearing “the holidays are hard.” I had no idea how hard, especially when the holidays are a pivot point in losing someone. The saying goes: When it rains, it pours. Well, with the drizzled onslaught of fall at my doorstep—and all the memories that come flooding back with it—I have a new appreciation … More When It Rains, It Pours
My Castle Heart Publications 