Musings

While on a recent college visit with my younger daughter, we found ourselves at a charming bookstore on the outskirts of campus. As we browsed, I noticed a baseball cap with a phrase on the front panel that might pique the interest of any bibliophile. It stated simply: “Unreliable Narrator”. These words bring to mind a whole genre of books in which the storyteller cannot be fully trusted as their credibility, perceptions, or honesty are in question and may be compromised. Aft

On the 6th anniversary of my husband’s passing in August, I experienced an aspect of grief that felt new. When Brad died, I quickly learned that some people “get” grief and many others do not. While some are generally sensitive and kind in their expression of condolences, there are also those who never seem to get it: the so-called “grief illiterate.” In the latter case, I observed that the illiterate simply do not know how to behave and may totally ignore the loss, or seem t

Ever since Brad died, I have noticed subtle signs in my environment that remind me of him and that simultaneously feel like communication. After his sudden passing, the sound of airplanes overhead and flickering lights above our kitchen island seemed to represent messages to me and our daughters. These occurrences felt so real that I would often find myself talking to the inanimate objects as though he and I were still conversing. Other less obvious proxies for him arose in t

Though tools and businesses enabling AI (Artificial Intelligence) have fueled remarkable growth in the stock market and offered a tech revolution, these same entities have also wreaked havoc on our collective psyche. Not only has AI shifted the outlook for the workforce, it has added uncertainty for new college graduates, struck fear in the hearts of our citizenry, and caused many to question whether anything found online is “real”. Even for AI proponents who see it as a rev

This month, our country celebrates its semiquincentennial, marking the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While this milestone honors our country, there are many sober parts of United States history and present day life which belie the celebratory atmosphere. America deserves great credit for many things, especially for establishing a democratic republic with ideals of justice, liberty, and equality for all. Still, whether we are acknowledgin

My late husband Brad would have turned 55 this month. Though it has been five years since he died, part of me still wants to push away the thought that he is gone. When I allow myself to fully comprehend his absence, I am flooded with a depth of sadness that is hard to put into words. At these times, I realize how much he has missed since his untimely death and my heart aches. I am grateful not to live in a constant state of pain and know that my self-protective instincts sto