Today marks the day I survived one whole year of being a widow. I actually despise that word: “widow.” Not because I’m in denial that I fall 100% into the widow category, but more because it’s a label. And labels put people into boxes. I don’t want to be put into a box. I moved …
Month: February 2017
Home (and the importance of a DNR order)
On this day, one year ago, I rode home in an ambulance with GR from the hospital. We were going home for him to die. Never in a million years would I have predicted that we’d be together in such a situation. The entire day leading up to that ambulance ride home was very stressful. …
It’s not you, IKEA. It’s me.
Today was a “just dip your big toe in the sad-sack well but pull it back out as soon as you can” day. This grief thing takes a lot of energy. And sometimes you don’t have the energy it needs. I went to IKEA in Memphis tonight for the first time. It looks like…well…every other IKEA …
Love makes it all bearable
A few weeks ago I went to an Andrew Bird concert in Memphis with my friend Megan and her boyfriend Sean. I’d seen him play at the Belly Up venue in Aspen this past summer, which was amazing. Before that, the last time I’d seen him was a couple of years ago at the Chicago …
Because…life.
Happy Sunday, people. I’m gonna’ keep things real real light today. To anyone who may be reading this, thank you so much. I’m very humbled that anyone at all anywhere wants to read anything I have to say about anything. I’ve been sick for two weeks with a tenacious case of bronchitis and a sinus …
Shaman Rob changed everything
Almost two months to the day after GR died I flew to Los Angeles by myself. My dear friend Kelli lives in Santa Monica with her husband Greg and their daughter Ruby. She had called me a few days after GR died to tell me that they were all going to New Zealand for six …
Inspiration à la Janis
I’ve been staying up really late at night this past week watching Netflix. I binge-watched the entire first season of The Crown in about three nights, then watched Extremis about end-of-life healthcare decision-making (I’ll save that for another post. I’m trying to not be depressing today), and, most recently, Janis: Little Girl Blue about Janis Joplin’s story from her …
Good grief
Nobody really knows what to say to anybody when they’re grieving, especially in the beginning stages. I’ve heard all kinds of things from people. I’ve only been truly irked a couple of times. Mainly when I’ve felt someone is discounting my pain and acting as if I should be getting over it by now. For …
When self-help books help
My sister Zoe makes fun of me that if and when I ever were to attempt online dating (which for the record is not even a thought in my mind right now), that my bio should read: “Fully stocked with essential oils and self-help books. Also, new car owner.” She thinks this is hilarious. I …
Here for a year, gone forever
A couple of nights ago I plugged my phone into the charger before falling asleep. Like one does. It was pretty late and I was groggy from being sick. That software update alert was on my iPhone screen. You know the one. My phone was a 5s, more than two years old, and I had …