There Are Things Worse Than Death

Sometimes the news gives you a story that you just can’t shake.
A woman accused of trying to suffocate her 11 month old.
Not your run of the mill child abuser, though. A loving mother who has cared for her child, born with severe physical defects that she can never hope to recover from. A [...]

Regret

When I was a teenager, acutely aware of the life-altering impact of every choice I faced, I adopted a decision-making strategy which, though it has not lessened my anxiety, has nevertheless served me well.
I decided that, when I was paralyzed by indecision and needed to snap out of it, I would imagine myself on my [...]

When I’m 88…

Have you seen the movie Big Fish?  Brilliant flick.  A must-see, if ever there was one.
Anywho, inspired by this movie, I love the idea of “knowing” when you are going to die, although I DO NOT actually want to KNOW that information.
Allow me to elaborate.
I am one of those people who is mindful of the [...]

Death and Yardwork

Wow, as I sat down to write about my day, that title came out of nowhere, and immediately made me think of two men in my family who died, years apart, of heart attacks while working in the hot sun in their yards: my Uncle Ray and my grandfather-in-law (he would be my ex-grandfather-in-law now, [...]

Tragic End to a New Life

I read a story online at CNN this morning about a baby who died from being shaken.  Normally I try to avoid these tragic tales because I empathize so deeply that it colors my whole day a dark depressing shade of gloomy.
But in this case I feel the need to give testimony from my own [...]

The Last Breath

When I die, I will let go of a breath I have been holding for a very long time.
The base of my neck will unknot, releasing my fear of error, criticism, and failure.
My shoulders will relax, letting go of the fear for my children, for their safety, health, and happiness.
My hands will unclench as I [...]