By Sherrie Cassel Grief is funny; it ebbs and flows in and out of our awareness. Today I’m starkly aware I’m a woman, a parent, who has lost a child, flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. Some days I feel the separation – just like the moment he was yanked from my body.Continue reading “Grief and Graduation Blues”
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Family Trauma and Posttraumatic Growth
By Sherrie Cassel There was an article I read in ~Nature~, one hundred years ago that discussed some research that was done with plants. One plant was nurtured and loved, taken care of with all its needs met. A different plant had all its physical needs managed, water, sun, foodplant, the difference, however, was theContinue reading “Family Trauma and Posttraumatic Growth”
Easter Vigil
By Sherrie Cassel Christians all over the globe are keeping vigil over the tomb of Jesus, their Savior, who will shock them in the morning with a magic trick so potent, its effects have survived two millennia and through many iterations. The Gospel story speaks to them, and because of my own familiarity with theContinue reading “Easter Vigil”
Psych Meds and Other Coping Strategies
By Sherrie Cassel This morning, my husband and I were listening to John Prine, a sage intellectual with just enough hick to make him truly entertaining with his similes and his metaphors for cheatin’, heartbreak, and a good shot of whiskey. He has passed away, but he left a musical legacy behind that is rightContinue reading “Psych Meds and Other Coping Strategies”
Twelve Stepping Baristas at Al Anon Meetings and the Fourth Step
By Sherrie Ann Cassel The coffee at Al Anon meetings is always perfect; it’s like those whose service task is making coffee for the meeting have a gift for concocting the magic elixir that keeps one awake until her voice shakes as she shares her angst about her addicted loved one. Al Anon did saveContinue reading “Twelve Stepping Baristas at Al Anon Meetings and the Fourth Step”
A Good Cry
By Sherrie Cassel We are each fortunate from time to time, even those whose lives resemble a life likened to Job in the Hebrew Bible, or perhaps Sisyphus of Greek origin, to have days when there is smooth sailing and our loads are light enough for us to catch a moment of relief from theContinue reading “A Good Cry”
Stoking the Embers
By Sherrie Cassel I held it up to my face, my left cheek, of course, because of your handedness. _____________________________________________ The round ceramic dish with your name scrawled on the bottom is _____________________________________________ shiny and green, like a cactus, no spines, just innocent little fingerprints, proof you were here. _____________________________________________ Years later we would laughContinue reading “Stoking the Embers”
Grieving Mental Health in America
By Sherrie Cassel I’m a writer tonight, not a spiritual care intern, not a psych major, but just a writer who is teetering on inappropriate characterizations of a segment of society that struggles to be noticed, other than as spectacle. There’s no other way to say it, and I’m not a clinician, so I won’tContinue reading “Grieving Mental Health in America”
Promises to Keep
By Sherrie Cassel Happy heavenly birthday? I’m not sure I even believe in heaven, but desperation to see my son again compels me to hold on tightly to my doubt – because then I can hold on to some belief, some inkling of hope that there is a place where a parent can meet herContinue reading “Promises to Keep”
Grief to Gratitude 