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By Sherrie Cassel Grieving [g]od? What does that even mean? Does grief applied to a god mean that god is dead in the Nietzschean sense? Does my perception of the [G]od of my understanding mirror your own walk of faith, or does my title shock you? I’ve been a Christian, one whose theology holds faithfulContinue reading “Grieving [g]od”

by Sherrie Cassel Know your limits. Don’t overextend yourself to the point of exhaustion, ad nauseam. There is a meme floating around on Facebook that asks the question: “What was the thing that made you realize you’re old?” My friend commented: “The mirror.” True enough. Know your limits. I look in the mirror and realizeContinue reading “A Season in Damascus”

By Sherrie Kolb-Cassel Dedicated to Timmy Craddock There are few times in life when total self-absorption is understood; grief provides us with such an opportunity, for the most part, by compassionate friends, family, clergy, and those who are in the mental health professions. There are some people who won’t get it, but at the endContinue reading “Selfishness in Grief”

By Sherrie Cassel The year my Rikki died we lost four other people within five months of his death. A dear friend, Jose, Ben’s sweet mom, a former student of Ben’s, and our dear brother, Russell. It was a shitty year, to be sure. I don’t believe in the fates, or maybe I do. IContinue reading “On Life, Death, and Healing”

By Sherrie Cassel Last week, I discussed the book TOUCHED WITH FIRE by Kay Redfield Jamison, about mental illness and the artist’s psyche. Which came first, the penchant for creativity, the events preceding your creative streak, or some pathology in the brain In light of Sinead O’Connor’s death, I’m prompted to discuss my own creativityContinue reading “Ode to Sinead and Shane”

By Sherrie Cassel Years ago, I read a book called, “Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament,” by Kay Redfield Jamison. I read this because I was interested in my misdiagnosis at the time of depression, and I mistakenly thought depression and manic-depressive illness were the same animal; they are not. WhenContinue reading “Mental Illness, Medication and the Muse”

By Sherrie Cassel She had a mastectomy yesterday. Her comment to me when she was first diagnosed with cancer was, “I’m 81 and I know I don’t need them anymore, but…”, as she drifted off to consider the way her life would change, not just her body. After surgery, in the recovery room, the firstContinue reading “Making our losses count”

By Sherrie Ann Cassel What is it about death that transforms reality into an idealization of a person who has passed; it’s almost like we send them off to heaven with our transcendent image of their sainthood. That is how it happens. As Rikki’s momma, I have collected every wound I ever caused him, andContinue reading “Self-Forgiveness: Balancing on the Fulcrum”

by Sherrie Cassel The temperature in the high desert is only 84 degrees F. It’s perfect, no humidity, sunny, bright, and just beautiful; it matches my mood. See, I’ve had a long stretch of good days. I can’t remember the last time I cried. Oh certainly, I miss my sweet boy every second of theContinue reading “Grief under Pressure”