HOPE
I recently had a discussion with a friend on the subject of hope. She has been estranged from her son for five years, but she is upbeat and lives a good life. She shared that, for her, hope meant managing expectations. I think most of us would…
Grandparents Denied Access to their Grandchildren
estrangement
A Healthy Brain
Recently, I’ve become concerned about what the effects of ongoing grief and depression have had on my brain. I have experienced so much trauma, heartache, abuse and betrayal over the course of my life that it feels like sometimes I am unable to cope and…
Another lonely Mother’s Day
The wind is crowded with hungry ghosts tonight. Sitting at my kitchen table, I warm my hands on a mug of hot coffee. My eyes cut to the mantle, to the photo, where your laughter was once caught like a passing train. …
A Mother and Her Son
Recently, I attended a workshop held by a mother and her grown son. They talked about their Hawaiian ancestry and the philosophy of “Aloha,” which means both hello and goodbye. It also has a deeper meaning, which is peace, love, compassion and mercy. The relationship…
Cold Comfort
I don’t follow golf, but I recently read a commentary in the LA Times about Patrick Reed, who won the Masters this year. Apparently, he is estranged from his parents, who were escorted off the course at the U.S. Open several years ago by police,…
Christmas Eve
Some say that ever ‘gainst that season comes Whereon our Savior’s birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long. And then, they say, no spirit dare abroad, The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes nor witch hath power…
The Gift of Forgiveness
I want to talk more about forgiveness. It is a topic that deserves a good deal of attention and thought. It’s tough to forgive – especially when we’ve been deeply hurt, betrayed, lied to, lied about or abused. It takes time to forgive. It takes…
Alone
I’ve always liked having time for myself, to do what I want and just enjoy my own company. During those times, I often feel a creative urge to write, to compose or just listen to music and daydream. It’s true that being alone is where…
Mother’s Day Hangover
Boy oh boy, what a pain in the neck Mother’s Day is for me. After a restless night’s sleep, I woke up with a pit in my stomach and a pain in my heart. Sudden remembering: Mother’s Day. Again. Everywhere I looked, I saw men…
Mother’s Day Comes ‘Round Again
Mother’s Day. Not exactly my favorite holiday. I spend most of the time wondering if I’ll hear from my son – will he text, call even? Most years now, I receive a nod in the form of a brief text, which is fine, but a…