I vividly remember New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1994… My 15-year-old daughter Nina loved any opportunity for a celebration. She invited a couple of her high school friends over, planned games, tried some new recipes, and bought her customary bottle…
Invite your family and/or friends to do a mourning ritual with you. Gather around a table with a candle in the center After the candle is lit, everyone thinks about two things to share out loud with the rest The…
As the major holidays approached in late autumn of 1995, I was filled with anxiety and deep sadness. In May of that year, my 15-year-old vivacious and beautiful daughter Nina was senselessly and tragically killed by an alcohol-impaired driver. With…
While most others love summer for its daytime pleasures, such as beach time, golf, picnics and other family outings, personally, I like it at night… on my deck after most others have long gone to bed. I gaze at the…
Shortly after Nina died, I remember well-meaning friends talking to me about hope. My reply was usually, “What was there to have hope about?” The only thing I prayed and hoped for was that my daughter would come back again,…
Having attended 19 National Conferences of The Compassionate Friends (TCF) in a row — from Portland in 1999 to St. Louis in 2018 — I have presented, co-presented or been a panelist on workshops for 17. I was asked by…
As the major holidays approached in the late autumn of 1995, I could feel my anxiety level and deep sadness intensify. Just months before, on my birthday, May 11th, my precious daughter…my Nina…a bright and vivacious 15-year-old with a promising…
I am acutely aware that autumn is here. As I write this, the air coming through my window is crisper and the leaves are taking on the golden and scarlet hues of the season. The shorts and tee shirts, which…
By now, you are all sadly aware of the great tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Our hearts are heavy, and we are stunned by this cruel loss of the lives of not only adults but…
When it came to connecting to the Facebook world, I was a late bloomer. While Facebook was all the rage and others raved about how they found old friends, great new recipes, and shared photos with family from afar, I just…
