By Sherrie Cassel On this first day of the year, I pledge to honor my emotions as they arise, the good, the bad, and the infantile. Hey, it happens. On this first day of the year, I pledge to be like Michael J. Fox and Stephen Hawking, who, despite their challenges, continue to inspire. OnContinue reading “On this First Day of the Year”
Tag Archives: death
Is it necessary to forgive — even posthumously?
By Sherrie Cassel Mom would be eighty-four today. I miss her so very much. We drove each other crazy — often; this is common in dysfunctional families, but…we loved each other fiercely; it’s called trauma bonding. Mom always liked to be the first person to call each of her children on his or her respectiveContinue reading “Is it necessary to forgive — even posthumously?”
Emily Dickinson
by Sherrie Cassel The psychedelic lights undulate on my office ceiling. Springsteen is lightly playing his harmonica, and I am grateful…a sixty-three-year-old hippie wannabe. I wasn’t old enough to be truly aware of the bombs bursting in midair. What does it mean to “lose someone in the war” when you’re only five years old? I’veContinue reading “Emily Dickinson”
Song Choice
By Sherrie Cassel There is a bird, brightly colored; it always has a lilt in her chirp, which I interpret from my hedonistic brain as a sense of joy. The lacrimose mountain tanager’s name means sorrowful or tearful, despite her happy tune. The theory of how she got her name, it is suggested, may beContinue reading “Song Choice”
Dancing to the Dirge
By Sherrie Cassel I don’t do viewings at funerals. I prefer to remember my loved ones as they were on our last happiest day together. Besides, the three times I’ve viewed a loved one during an open coffin celebration of life, the person looked nothing like herself. No, it’s difficult enough to lose a personContinue reading “Dancing to the Dirge”
Rationalizing until the Cows Come Home
By Sherrie Cassel Dedicated to the Esperon Family The world would be silent, but “American Pie” is playing on my phone and I’m grateful for the noise. I’m listening as Don McLean sings about the spirit of my generation. I think about how Lennon read a book on Marx and how when someone is inContinue reading “Rationalizing until the Cows Come Home”
Grief and estrangement
By Sherrie Cassel Dedicated to my biological family: I’m sorry you’re hurting. I found out yesterday, on Facebook, that my sister died; this is how my family of origin handles things. We’re not functional together; estrangement has been good for me. I did not know for decades that I could break free from toxicity andContinue reading “Grief and estrangement”
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”
Sunrays through the Rain
By Sherrie Cassel One of my professors has told me on a few occasions that I have an overdeveloped sense to be liked. Interesting, because early in my life I was a “come closer, go away” kind of person. I prefer community to distance these days. I have a mostly positive outlook on life –Continue reading “Sunrays through the Rain”
Grieving — in the Black
By Sherrie Cassel The lights twinkled on the Xmas tree, a secular tree, but not a secular evening, as she lit the seventh Hannukah candle and chanted her prayer. Incense smoke wafted to the rhythm of the universal energy, and we enjoyed the spiritual nature of our celebration, Hannukah, Christmas, Xmas, or just another dayContinue reading “Grieving — in the Black”
Grief to Gratitude 