Hello Grief

Guest writer Catherine Tidd reflects on how becoming a widow permanently changed her as a person, and how friends and family who surround a widow/er may not be able to understand this transformation.

When guest writer Diana Doyle’s 8 year old daughter, Dempsey, began asking questions about her sister who died when Dempsey was a baby, Diana began reflecting on the fact that she and her daughter both lost their sisters. They both know life with sibling loss.

Sometimes it is even more painful to feel the ache of loss on behalf of another person you love. Author Elizabeth Sullivan reflects on how her grief for herself is different than the grief she feels for her sister’s loss of their dad.

After losing her mother at 9 and father at 12, Author Lynne Hughes became used to losing important people in her life. She talks about how reconnecting with friends and family from her past has opened new doors to healing, decades after her loss.

We each find coping mechanisms to deal with the strong emotions that come with grief – some healthy, some not. Author Pete Shrock talks about parenting an angry child.

Beneath all of the sadness, there are some funny things that happen when people you love die, but sometimes it’s hard to see the humor right away. Author Alisha Krukowski shares one such story that took place as she shopped for wedding dresses soon after she lost her mother.

After her mom died, author Alisha Krukwski realized that she didn’t have a single recording of her mom’s voice. She now saves too many voicemails, and talks about the “security blankets” we hang onto after we have lost someone.

Author Bill Cushnie shares his take on the different spiritual dimensions in the ways we respond to the death of someone we love, whether we consider ourselves religious or not.

The death of someone we love is always difficult. The circumstances surrounding the loss however are seldom the same. Author Bill Cushnie explores the differences between anticipated and sudden loss, the loss of a young or older loved one, and stigmatized loss.

Guest writer Alan Silberberg talks about the summer when he was 9 years old, the summer that changed his life forever… the summer his Mom died and the word “normal” was removed from his vocabulary.