This is a lovely post about an important topic!
I belong to a book club where, at 55, I’m the youngest member. The oldest member is 92 and there is another member who turned 90 this year. I’m reluctant member of the group because I like to read spontaneously and don’t like having reading deadlines. I don’t like having to finish a book I’m not immediately drawn into – there are too many other books barking for my attention. But I go because it’s such an honor to be in the presence of these well-read, spicy, and insightful women.
Our most recent book was Wild by Cheryl Strayed, a book about grief, something everyone in the group is familiar with. Once you’ve reached a certain age, you’ve survived devastating losses of loved ones. It’s part of the price you pay for survival.
A few days before the group was to meet, I got the story book, Cry, Heart, But…
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D.Katie Powell Art 
Good post. There are different forms of grief. Some people have time to prepare and others don’t.
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I didn’t when my former husband died. He dropped dead and I was 40. No one around me was prepared for death of their mates and frankly I think on some level they found it contagious.
Carmel, BTW, Joy is a local artist too….
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A knock on the door for my son.
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OmiGod. Tragic. Sheriff showing up at 4am for me….
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Thanks for the reblog, Katie. It means a lot to me. We don’t get to talk about death and grief in this society. I’m glad we’re starting to make it part of our conversations and support systems now.
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I wrote during my former husband’s death (once a journaler…), and editors loved my writing, but said, “Death doesn’t sell.” Wow, maybe not like a Gresham novel but tell that to the stack of very bad books on grieving that were given to me by friends…..
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One good thing about the emergence of the internet is that we can share things better. I think Wild was so wildly successful because it was an honest book about grief. I hope you get a chance to publish your work. I know from your blog and art that your writing is insightful and helpful.
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Thanks Joy. I’ve been considering revisiting it 20 years later and self-publishing…
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I am sure this is the hardest part of their job! It was 1 a.m. I am not sure anything can prepare you. Although reading a book on grief later reassured me my feelings were normal.
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Yes, the young sheriff was not prepared and broke laws (refused to leave) rather than leave me alone with my grief.
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Thanks for this, Kate. I was so moved that I reblogged Joyce’s post for my perfect picture book Friday recommendation. What a beautiful post and book!
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She has done some illustration, teaches kids, nice artist…
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