A Love Story That Began Almost 60 Years Ago

Today, April 2, is the anniversary of my sister Shirley's wedding. Several days after she died last July, my brother-in-law shared the story of how they came to be together. Imagine the year 1962, in a rural town in north-central New York. Three houses keep company with each other, hugged by cornfields and the main…

Her Favorite Song Was “My Way”

In less than six months, I've lost both of my sisters. On July 1, 2022, my sister Shirley passed. And now, my sister Charlotte. Charlotte passed away on November 25, 2022. In the last few weeks, she went from being full of energy and living independently to needing oxygen 24/7 and home health services. Instead…

The Birthday Card I Will Never Send

August 2 is my sister Shirley's birthday. She would have been 76 today. Here's the birthday card I bought for her a couple of months ago. I think she would have gotten a kick out of it.  During the viewing and funeral in early July, many people came up to me and said I looked…

I’m Running Out of July

I've got only a couple of days before the month of July is over ... to which I say, Good riddance, July! For those of you new to my blog, let me start with the painful acknowledgment of my sister's death late on July 1. For context, I have three siblings and our birth order…

I Could Have Been a Better Sister #grief

I could have been a better sister. I was only nine and you were nineteen when you married and left the family home. As you took your vows, I sat in the pew, steeling myself to be quiet, voiceless cries whirling in my head: "Don't go! Don't leave me!" I was only nine and, although…

Waiting for Good News Sometimes Pays Off

You all were so kind with my last post that I want to give you a brief update. Bear with me because the news starts out as not-good. My sister had a setback on Saturday. She was moved back to the hospital and given IV fluids. We were all very upset, not understanding what was…

Waiting, but not for Godot.

I've always been indecisive, sometimes very indecisive, but never not indecisive. I wonder if indecisiveness is related to procrastination because I'm afflicted with both conditions. I have worked on my novel a bit here and there, but I've been spending the bulk of my creative energy learning punch needle work and knitting up some old…

Splish Splash and Sundry Stuffs #amwriting #amknitting #family

Don't worry. I'm not writing this post from my bathtub. No, I'm well-covered up in comfy clothes (including a wool cardigan), preparing another post of this and that and the other thing. Sigh. Where do I begin? I sometimes think I should write my blog posts one thought at a time. A while ago I…