I once drove into a cemetery to attend a funeral and was greeted by a lopsided, handmade sign with scrawled words in black paint: NO ARTIFICAL FLOWERS! Sounding out the misspelling in my mind – “arti-fickle” – brought the giggles during what was supposed to be a solemn memorializing of someone’s life. I admit it.Continue reading “Memorials Worth Remembering”
Category Archives: Caregiving
That’s Enough
As a new widow, one of the challenges I’ve identified already is recognizing what is enough. For example, how many pictures do I leave up before mementoes turn into shrines? Or as our son said when I asked what of his dad’s keepsakes he’d like to take, “how much of someone else’s life can youContinue reading “That’s Enough”
Now what?
I’ve neglected this blog while the demands of caregiving have consumed all of my powers. Well, I did keep up the Caring Bridge journal for those folks who followed the course of our lives over the 15 and 1/2 months of Ron’s struggle after his stroke.(Search for Ronald Liechty at http://www.caringbridge.com if you are curious.)Continue reading “Now what?”
Things Happen
One year ago today this journey began. How different our lives are now. Ron has come so far despite the severity of his stroke, and yet his gains lag behind our hopes. We feel this weight of grief for what’s been lost from both our lives. Perhaps we always will. But we soldier on. WhatContinue reading “Things Happen”
Obstacle or path?
Recently, I read the Zen saying, “the obstacle is the path.” I have been tumbling this wisdom in my brain box trying to polish the ideas these words inspire. Like two pieces of flint, the words “obstacle” and “path” strike sparks for me. Let me see if breathing my thoughts across the saying produces anyContinue reading “Obstacle or path?”
What Blessings?
According to a Roman Catholic tradition the day I am writing this, September 8, is Mary’s birthday. THE Mary – Mother of Jesus Mary. Of course, the date is no more certain than the date of her firstborn’s birth, but tradition has set the markers and so we keep them as touch points for remembering.Continue reading “What Blessings?”
What,Me Worry?
“If it can be solved, there is no need to worry. If it can’t be solved, worry is of no use.” The Dali Lama shares his wisdom with the world. And I admire the truth of Zen – the goal being to live in spiritual chill with the universe. Intellectually I can go there. EmotionallyContinue reading “What,Me Worry?”
Management by chaos . . . Who me?
I have scolded close friends and family before about what I call “management by chaos (MBC).” Sometimes when human beings don’t know how to solve one life problem, they create another one. They spend money they don’t have, take on another responsibility they don’t have time for, or pick a fight with a spouse insteadContinue reading “Management by chaos . . . Who me?”
First you clean the cobwebs from the sink
Settling in after caring for Ron away from home for eight months has been a challenge. How easy it is to accumulate “stuff.” Necessities I had at home but were two hours away, I replaced. Then dragged the replacements home with me. Well some I shared, some I donated, but lots and lots came homeContinue reading “First you clean the cobwebs from the sink”
On titling my blog . . .
Years ago when my children were young and times were difficult, my husband (and their new stepfather) said to me, “Remember, Anna, you’re playing for the long run.” In other words, my job as a parent was to recognize that my children would not always be little, that it was my job to hold toughContinue reading “On titling my blog . . .”
In it for the Long Run 