To sacrifice is to give something up. It’s not something that just happens, however. To sacrifice is to make a choice. It’s the giving up something of value in order to help someone else. We even do it in sports – the sacrifice in baseball involves one player choosing the out in order to advance to base or home. People often phrase sacrifice as something … Continue reading Sacrifice – choice, virtue, and connection.
My mother died at the beginning of the year. Thank you to everyone who has expressed sympathies. I appreciate your support and kind words very much. Death in real life differs from death on television. On television, people collapse in inconsolable puddles. In real life, there’s much to do. And that’s before you get to the bureaucracy of estates. My mom’s memorial service is this … Continue reading Death and busywork – an off-the-cuff joint.
On grief and grieving. Did you know that Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ 1969 book “On Death and Dying” was written for medical practitioners? She wanted to address the treatment protocols for dying patients by providing information to fellow practitioners on what the experience was like for their terminal patients. It’s not a blueprint for people going through the grieving process after they’ve lost someone as I always … Continue reading The fractured nature of (my) grief.
I’ve spent the last two weeks packing up things I no longer need, culling the surfeit of possessions I’ve acquired during my adult years with a ruthlessness I’ve not been able to bring to bear before. I am cleaning house. It’s not all for donation. I’m biting the bullet and having a garage sale. I’ve got the date set – the weekend of September 15th … Continue reading I’m an empty nester – an off-the-cuff joint.
From Famine to Feast 