The Mourning Forecast – Grief Surges
There’s no five-day forecast for our emotions, especially during bereavement. We can’t predict how we’ll feel tonight, tomorrow or at any point during the Year of…
Lie to Me, I’ll Believe
Did you believe the lies they told? The lies you told yourself? In my essay in The New York Times, “Surviving an Alcoholic” (5/27/15), I wrote…
Sheryl Sandberg’s Reluctant Identity
As Sheryl Sandberg begins to navigate the world of widowhood, it brings to mind – no doubt for many widows – those first days and…
Dressed for Death
What does your last outfit say about you? Most of us have encountered the task of dressing the dead. What will they wear? When we…
No Need to Go Ostrich, But Resolve to Remember the Good
I heard myself telling people at the wake and funeral how lucky I felt. Yes, lucky. Robert and I had some wonderful years together for…
Oh no – Here Comes Valentine’s Day! A Widow’s Guide to Cupid on Her Calendar and How to Handle The Big Red Dread
It’s almost the 14th and you haven’t ripped out the February page in your month-at-a-glance date planner. Good for you! This Pfizer-fueled holiday turns the next…
I Want To Hold Your Hand: Death Doulas – There for the Dying and the Living
“The word doula, Greek for ‘woman who serves,’ is usually associated with those who assist in childbirth. But increasingly, doulas are helping people with leaving…
Crossroads of Clutter and Memento – Dead Man’s Stuff
“I can’t get rid of it,” my friend said, holding her late husband’s dental school diploma, as she prepared for her tag sale. After selling…
False Cheer? No thanks.
“Sorry, but I’m just not up for this,” said one of my widow friends about a New Year’s Eve invite. If the threat of hearing Auld…
Holiday Survival Tips for the Widowed
Thanksgiving ushers in the holiday season on a tidal wave of nostalgia. It’s a time of year steeped in traditions. Just what you need now, a whoosh…
Paula Ganzi McGloin 