Herb was a huge part of my life. His death closes the door to the past but has opened the floodgate for many memories to rush in. I visited him a few times in his last weeks. Beneath the memory loss and extreme illness he was himself. He had a spark that I remembered. I […]
Young People Who Lost Their Lives (A partial list)
March 13, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Emantic “EJ” Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., 21; Jemel Roberson, 26; DeAndre Ballard, 23; Botham Shem Jean, 26; Antwon Rose Jr., 17; Ramarley Graham, 18; Trayvon Martin, 17; Wendell Allen, 20; Kendrec McDade, 19; Jonathan Ferrell, 24; Jordan Baker, 26; Victor White lll, 22; John Crawford lll, 22; Michael Brown, 18; Ezell Ford, […]
The Birthday
February 5, 2019 by 2 Comments
I acknowledge the loss… I wrote this in 2012. I wish I could say it was a unique occurrence or even the last of its kind. But alas… I am trying to do my part in understanding and eradicating racism. But then again, what is my part? It’s hard to know and recognize my own […]
I acknowledge the loss…
February 5, 2019 by 6 Comments
Republished on what would have been Trayvon’s 24th birthday. …of a young man in Florida. When I read this boy’s name, one among thousands of young black men who have died for the wrong reasons, I am overwhelmed by grief and shame. The grief is for myself and every other parent and grandparent who cannot […]
Living Through Death
January 22, 2018 by 2 Comments
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 […]
Happy New Year
January 8, 2018 by 2 Comments
It wasn’t so long ago that I took a happy new year’s greeting at face value. Of course, the new year would be happy. The worldfFelt totally within my control and I expected good things. Well, I still expect good things. But it has come quite emphatically to my attention in the past year that […]
My Friend, Gen
January 25, 2017 by 2 Comments
“You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.” Wild Geese by Mary Oliver* Today I have lost a dear friend. I am sad. And, […]
Day of the Young
November 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
‘The mention of my child’s name may bring tears to my eyes, but it never fails to bring music to my ears.” Bereaved Parent It’s harder this year. Placing my nephew’s photo on the altar is an inescapable reminder that he is gone. And it brings all of the young faces into clear focus. Dia […]
A New Normal?
December 8, 2015 by 2 Comments
“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall […]
We are with you here…
December 3, 2015 by 4 Comments
“This place where you are right now, God circled on a map for you.” Hafiz Dear Nephew, We are bringing you home today to be with your family in familiar surroundings. I grieve for our loss of you but I do not grieve for you. I rejoice for all that you are and all you […]
