By Sherrie Cassel for Rikki It’s been a minute since I’ve had time to write my grief. I feel it every second of the day. It’s like a soft, aching minor chord; it runs through everything I think, say, do, and feel. Even good moments remind me of his absence – and I always getContinue reading “80,000 years”
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New book!
I read Even the Monsters a couple of years ago and found it very healing. From the author: Why am I alive? What is the meaning of life? How can I live well in a broken world? Have you ever pondered the meaning behind life’s twists and turns? Yearned for fulfillment beyond the mundane? FeltContinue reading “New book!”
The Thaw
By Sherrie Casssel I’m taking a class this semester in seminary that is so difficult, I spent all weekend trying to understand the material so I could complete an assignment. I bucked and I cried. I cursed and sometimes I abandoned hope. I think it was Einstein who said that if you can’t explain somethingContinue reading “The Thaw”
Reality on the spectrum
by Sherrie Cassel Sometimes the day starts with one giant heaping of WTF?. As some readers are aware, I’ve been on a news fast for nearly one year. I mean, I’m not a “vegan” news consumer, but neither am I an aficionado. The news, while important, especially during an American election year, when the stakesContinue reading “Reality on the spectrum”
Reasoning with Grief
by Sherrie Cassel Per usual, I have an assignment to do, and two more creeping up on me, a presentation, a paper, therapy notes to keep up on, and yanking back my peace from all the places that demand my attention, yet … here I am, playing on social media, listening to music, with theContinue reading “Reasoning with Grief”
Stormy Weather
By Sherrie Cassel For Rikki There was that day we put two chairs, always two, Just us … two, near the wooden screen door, flimsy with the perennial “Do not disturb” sign. There was lightning and then thunder, and we whooped and hollered with every strike. our cat, Darwin, running to hide, frightened by theContinue reading “Stormy Weather”
Balancing on the Fulcrum (revisited)
By Sherrie Cassel Edited for corrections @ 9:42 P.M., PST, 9/4/2024 What is it about death that transforms reality into idealization of a person who has passed; it’s almost like sending them off to heaven with a delusion of their angelhood. That is how it happens. As Rikki’s momma, I have collected every wound IContinue reading “Balancing on the Fulcrum (revisited)”
Bearing His Cross
By Sherrie Cassel I make time for rumination. I race through the two days I’m out in the craziness of life in California, but then I look ahead to see if there’s a day I can schedule for reminiscences – maybe even a day of supreme sorrow as I make the time to feel hisContinue reading “Bearing His Cross”
Normalizing Boo Boos
By Sherrie Cassel There’s a feeling I get when I hear a song I find to be beautiful. The first note can have me sobbing in seconds. I’ve learned to tame the meltdowns. Deep grief is a part of my horrible/wonderful life. I’m the mother of a child who died from the mental illness ofContinue reading “Normalizing Boo Boos”
Happy birthday, Son
By Sherrie Cassel Tomorrow, August 6, at 3:15 p.m. is my son’s birthday. He would be 41. I’ve booked myself solid for tomorrow: clients all day, two groups to facilitate, four hours in traffic (round-trip). I’m cool. My heart will feel pangs, just as my body did 41 years ago. I went into labor onContinue reading “Happy birthday, Son”
Grief to Gratitude 