My friend Keith has been counting the days to his son’s graduation for years. Michael will speak at his graduation from the College of Engineering at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. tomorrow, on Friday, May 19, 2023. On Sunday, he will graduate with the Class of 2023 in a commencement ceremony on the National … Continue reading #withkeith
My cousin sent me a text a few days ago to tell me her mother, my aunt, was in the hospital. She sent an update later. Her mother would be moved to compassionate care. “We are not going to win this one.” I immediately began searching my memories. When was the last time I’d seen … Continue reading Suddenly, it’s the last time
In a couple weeks, my friend Christina and I will swim 11 miles, a feat neither of us has ever done. Christina named it the “Swim of Hope.” I take my inspiration for this swim from my friend Christina who created it on behalf of our friend Keith, who is living with hope and pancreatic … Continue reading Swim of Hope
My mom insisted on carrying her husband’s ashes on our United Airlines flight from Houston on Memorial Day weekend. A hard and heavy thing to carry, literally and emotionally. A sealed plastic box with the cremated remains of the man she’d married and shared her life with for 62 years. I’m sitting in the seat … Continue reading Bringing her husband home
The other day I started a message to a beloved friend. I typed “how are you feeling?” Hang on, I thought. Is this the question I really want to ask? Is this the question I want to ask to this man I love? This man does not live with me. We are separated by an … Continue reading What are you feeling?
Near the end of January, I checked the weather. It was freezing. With the ripping northeast wind, the temperature was 13 degrees. There was a small craft advisory. That wind direction meant there’d be impressive chop in the small cove. Perfect day of a swim. And not. We decided to meet at the cove and … Continue reading United We Swim
Last month, after the inauguration of our new president and vice president, I wrote President and Dr. Biden a letter. I posted it in an envelope I addressed by hand and hand-selected the stamp. I once worked as a summer congressional intern, answering constituents’ mail, so I know mailing a letter to the president and … Continue reading Dear President and Dr. Biden
I found this little card this morning. A drawing of a tiny boat being tossed on high curly waves, teetering atop the tallest crest, heading into a horizon with a low, dark cloud looming, tucked in the upper left corner of the frame. It has two simple words etched at the base of that middle, … Continue reading have faith
I have never been a fan of Thanksgiving. I know, it’s heresy, right? So many reasons. As a Mayflower descendent, I grew troubled over the years with the fairy tale that we’ve told our children about Pilgrims breaking bread with the indigenous people who saved the colonists’ bacon their first harsh winter in what’s now … Continue reading Breaking bread in this broken year
“Was it COVID?” This question was hurled in a hushed voice at my mother, a wicked curve ball mere days after my dad’s death. This was before I realized that I’d need to block for my mother. Block insensitive and senseless questions. Too shell-shocked and polite, my mother answered on autopilot. “No.” And that should … Continue reading What not to say to a bereaved spouse
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