Since the end of the school year, in the third week of June, our 17-year-old boy had been itching to get out of town on a day trip or road trip, but we had all been way too tired… until now. Specifically, he wanted to go to Gettysburg, PA, to a tiny but […]
Widowed Effect on Family/Friends
Happy Re-New Year
Good morning. Here I am again writing on a Saturday that happens to be a major American holiday; this one celebrating the 250th anniversary of the USA. As many of us who are widowed know, weekends coinciding with holidays can often prove to be draining instead of festive; delivering a double emotional whammy. I still […]
The Kids Are Alright 🙅🏻♂️🙅🏻♀️
But… are they? 😮💨 I’ve hit another one of those walls where I have a lot to write about, but so much that my brain can’t decide what to focus on. Truth is, in this family, we are ALL literally crawling to the end of the school year. Yep, our last day is June 18. […]
Tony Trees
In June of 2022, I had two trees planted and I call them my Tony Trees. A group of my sorority sisters had pooled money together so I could have them planted in his honor. It was a time when everyone was looking for a way to help. After sitting on it for a while, […]
DeathFest V in Review
A week ago, I hosted a party called DeathFest V (5) to honor the life Tony lived and the person he was. Tony loved revelry with all the people he loved. Even though the party had a dark name, gathering together was at the center of the event. As I built the invite list, I […]
Friendship Renewed
Recently, I was talking with someone at a New York law firm about settling a lawsuit. I was glad to learn an agreement seemed to be in place, but, predictably, there were “I’s” to be dotted and “T’s” to be crossed. From many years of practicing law, I know firsthand that the wheels of justice […]
JOKE IS ON YOU! 🤣
APRIL FOOL’S DAY Laughter is medicine for the soul, they say. Humor is the “glue” that holds a relationship together, they say. But DARK humor? It can become a survival tool too, baby! I say. I am willing to bet my tax refund 💵 to say that one doesn’t truly know dark humor until you lose […]
A Party to Plan
This week we turn the calendar to April. Once again, I will find myself in the month that Tony passed. What feels crazy to me is that this year will be the 5th anniversary of his death. Five years is bananas. It’s hard to believe that much time has passed. A month or so ago, […]
I’ve Gone Dark.
This week I am in it. 😔 In a funk. The kind you can’t pinpoint to one single thing, just a mix of little and big things that make life feel so heavy and unfair all over again. It feels like a grief hangover. The kind that wants to keep you in bed for days […]
Embracing My Inner Outlier
Tomorrow begins the first day of the month that contains the first day of spring. For those in the Northeast and elsewhere, spring can’t come too soon. Even here, in Northeast Florida, we’ve endured extreme cold for this region killing off plants and trees that usually withstand milder winter temps. As I thaw, I’m also […]
A Visit With Two Old Friends
On Sunday, I drove Robyn to the airport, then immediately went home to clean the place in anticipation of Craig and Donna’s expected arrival the following day. No rest for the wicked! Craig and Donna are two of my closest friends. I first met them as a young lawyer shortly after I had accepted a […]
Friendship and Grief
Emily is out of town this week. This repost on friendship and grief is worth another read form her 2024 blog post! __________________ Over the last week, I’ve been reflecting on friendship. When you lose your partner, often you also lose your best friend. Losing your best friend changes the dynamics of how you share […]