It’s been a little over three weeks since my mother passed away, but it feels like longer. Many thoughts, good and bad, creep into my mind, as I try to process this loss. I’ve been doing what I need to do, but I still feel as though I’m in a daze.

My emotions are running all over the place. Sadness, grief, regret, and family issues keep bubbling up. I have periods of crying that just seem to come from nowhere. One minute I’m fine, and the next minute, I’m a wreck. I still can’t believe my mother is gone. I called my mother everyday. It seems strange to not do that anymore. My life has changed in a big way, and I’m having a difficult time dealing with it. (more…)

I write this post with a heavy heart and tears running down my face. If you recall, I recently requested your input about my mother’s upcoming 90th birthday. I had been conflicted about whether to celebrate her birthday party on the exact day, as I wanted, or on the week-end, as my sisters wanted. My sisters wanted to celebrate on the weekend because of work schedules. Since this was a major milestone, I felt it was important to honor her exact birthday, even if less convenient. I reached out to you and asked for your opinions.

In typical highly sensitive fashion, I received very thoughtful and helpful suggestions. I thank you all for them! I ended up talking to my mother to find out her preference. She told me that she wanted to have everyone together and didn’t care what day we celebrated her birthday. (more…)

Do you have a reason for being? This question comes to mind because I was told by a person, who I adore very much, that he didn’t have a reason for being.

I recently went to a funeral for Estelle, my sister’s mother-in-law. She and her husband, Bob, were a fun couple to be around. They were upbeat, and you could tell that they were deeply devoted to each other. They did everything together. They were involved in many activities, including Estelle’s volunteer work with children. (more…)