When writing becomes healing
These posts will vary based on the emotional experience captured. Some will be full pieces with articulate perspective. Others may be a five sentence rant because sometimes all we need is to express our grief in its raw form. I’ll share memories of my mom and stories of who she was. Who I have become and am becoming because of her.
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Happy 67th Birthday
Dear Mom, Every year on your birthday I sit and think of all the versions of yourself you could’ve been. The lives you could’ve lived. The memories you could’ve had. Do you remember running a…
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Love, Karen
This year’s letter will be a special one. It has been 10 years of processing the highs and lows of grief. An entire decade of life persevering and love enduring. There is no way to…
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F**k Grief
TW: Substance abuse and profanity Dear Mom, I’ve spent the past 10 years putting together what happened to you. It’s like learning a new language that no one else understands. My heart has bled into…
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Happy 66th Birthday
Dear Mom, 10 years ago we celebrated what would be your last birthday. I can’t remember what we did. Maybe we made your chocolate chip pancakes – adding bananas inside to make them “healthy.” I…
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Nine Years
Dear Mom, Nine years ago I went to the hospital to visit my mom while she was going through her second round of chemo. When I walked into her room she was nowhere to be…
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Goodbye, Grandpa
My mom is not the only loss that’s changed me in the past nine years. This is a special tribute to my adopted grandfather, Geddes Hanson. On March 27, 2021 the world suddenly lost a…
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Seven Years
Dear Mom, Seven years ago today we shared goodbyes for the very last time. You said that I would learn to live without you. I didn’t believe you. Sometimes I still don’t. Every August 14th…
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Another Mother’s Day
Dear Mom, You had always wanted to be a mother. It took you 10 years, dozens of attempts, treatments, and prayers. I can’t imagine how difficult it must’ve been at times for you and dad,…
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How to Survive a Mother’s Day Without a Mom
For me, Mother’s Day is the time for me to take off my metaphorical Band-Aid and let my wound breathe. I allow my heart to bleed and ache for my mom. The tears that burn…