Magical Thinking Again…

I am not one of the people who says of my stroke, "why me?" Why not me? I inherited bad physical tendencies from my mother. High blood pressure. High cholesterol. And even some genetic risk factors. Thoughts of her and her stroke at the same age give me an emotional bond with her now. I realize how lucky I am not to be worse. And yesterday I confessed my feelings to a friend who also had a stroke last year. The reality has hit me recently that living will always include a struggle. It will be difficult for me to walk and even harder for people to watch me or walk with me. I can cut vegetables and prepare dinner, but have had the experience that one slip of the knife draws blood. I can't lift heavy hot things out of the oven and risk …

A Visit with Gratitude

It’s an emotional time but I am through crying. I am still sad about your leave-taking and at the same time I am overcome with gratitude. I am grateful that you are healthy enough to travel. I am grateful that you are able to take the time and resources to visit us. I am grateful […]

My Mother’s Birthday

Dear Children, Here it is – Mom’s birthday again. Will I ever get better at expressing my feelings about my mother?  I know that the longer I live, the more I understand both her and myself. Observing her difficulty in making connection is an object lesson in love. In the years when you were under […]

Living Through Death

Most of us can only look at death from the outside. We struggle to understand and want to be in it for the people we love, but their’s is a solitary path. My friend is facing the loss of her brother to advancing cancer. She wants to be there for him and craves the close […]

To My Valentine

To My Valentine, I have so many valentines now. But as I am thinking about my children and my grandchildren, my mind turns to you. You are the one, after all. You are the one who has always loved me. All of those years ago I didn’t understand how such a stud decided to pay […]

…on Christmas and You

(NOTE:  Do you want to write to your new love? Your aging husband?  Your child?  Your Friend?   I hope this helps you find the words you need for the person you love.  This is one of a series of requested letters  posted under “Form Letters” for those of you who would like an idea or […]

Welcome to My World of Letters

Many of you are looking for a specific letter for ideas to help you write to someone you love. You are welcome to take what you need from this site for your personal use. But here’s the deal. You can do it yourself.  Go to the top of the main blog page or click here […]

The Grandparent Thing

“There were no mirrors in my Nana’s house/no mirrors in my Nana’s house/So the beauty that I saw in everything/the beauty in everything/was in her eyes/like the rising of the sun. I only knew love and I never knew hate.” Ysaye M. Barnwell What was my model for grandparenting? Interesting question! Thinking back to when […]

I’m Still Here!

Magical Thinking  denotes the belief that one’s thoughts by themselves can bring about effects in the world or that thinking something corresponds with doing it. – Wikipedia A few nights ago, I dreamed that I was running down the hall. I called out to my daughter because I had left my cane behind. “Look,” I […]

Gospel Music Sunday

My dad died 10 years ago today. My mom died 20 years ago last month. They both loved me very much. I wouldn’t want them to have lived with the grief of my having a stroke. Although they would’ve been full of knowledgeable suggestions. In fact, mom had a stroke at 75, too. And they […]