In my opinion, graduation and prom pictures should not be allowed at funerals. The collage of images more fitting for a yearbook page is drastically out of place next the sign in book at a memorial service. A church filled to overflowing with young, tearstained faces just feels wrong in so many ways. However, I … Continue reading The Lesson of the Butterfly

We all know that death is part of life. It is undeniable. We can pretend differently, but then something happens to remind us of the truth. How do you handle the death of a teenager anyway? It is foreign territory to have to even consider. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, but in our minds, teenagers … Continue reading Hope

Imagine you are driving on a mountain road. You start sometime mid-day and drive until dusk. It is a beautiful view as you twist and turn, ever climbing towards the top. There are cars behind, following the rhythm of back and forth, winding across a ridge only to ascend further up into the heights. The … Continue reading Seasons of Silence

I write today for my single friends. ..those who have loved and lost due to death of a spouse, or the ravages of divorce, or those who are holding out for the perfect partner. Today is the day our culture has decided to celebrate love. More specifically, romantic love…which is elevated to the status of … Continue reading Singles Awareness Day

I haven’t written in a while. Honestly, I have been trying to keep my head above water and trying to process all that is happening in my life. I wish I could report that I have figured it all out, but that would be a lie. I think it will be quite some time before … Continue reading Treading Water

It’s Feburary 2nd again. Bill’s Alive Day. Twenty-four years from the day a phone call shattered my peaceful day, and turned my life upside down. A few seconds and everything was changed… including my definition of love. I cannot explain it. I cannot fathom how I made that journey from the ER, to the ICU, … Continue reading Another Feb. 2nd

Went by to see Louise today. Ray said she had a bad night…meaning that she was up and about from about 1:00 am to 6:00 am…meaning so was he. When I talked with her she seemed more confused than the last time I saw her, and her hands were tremoring. I am hoping it is … Continue reading Today’s Louise Visit

We went to see Louise for her birthday. She was happy to see us and happier to learn that is was her birthday. We had to improvise with the candle so we used a taper candle off the dining room table. She wasn’t sure what we were doing, and honestly, it was a bit unusual. … Continue reading Happy Birthday Louise

I went by to see Louise tonight. She and Ray were on their way to eat dinner so we talked a few minutes in the driveway. She is glad to be home. She said she remembered the dogs, but she seems like she is in a different world. I told her that her memory is … Continue reading Home

Today was a big day for Louise. First, to see her regular neurologist this morning, then a team meeting at the nursing home/rehab center this afternoon. Once again, I could be a neurologist. “We don’t really know…and time will tell.” I didn’t really expect much different. He said this could be her new baseline, but … Continue reading Big Day