Category: Grief
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The Yellow Sweater
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Twelve years ago, a phone call was transferred through to my classroom. On December 9th, 2009, standing in front my very young students, I learned of my dad’s unexpected passing. No one knew that was what the phone call was going to be. And no one really knew what to…
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The Empty Seat at the Table
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The holidays. Ah, the holidays. Shopping lists. To do lists. Not enough time in the day. Not enough days in the week. Then there’s the other part. The sleeping in, the wearing pjs for two weeks, the not knowing what day it is, the too much coffee and no alarm clocks…
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Life After Death
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It was 10am on April 23rd, 2018. Maybe it was 11. Actually, it could have been 1. Or was it 2? It’s hard to explain how you can remember everything and nothing at the same time. I’ve come to learn that a grieving brain is paradox. I watched as two nurses unplugged machines,…
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You Can’t Stop the Waves
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The holidays are just about over…back to work and regular routine and schedules in just a few days. Call me crazy, but I’m happy to get back to it all. I don’t like the holidays. There. I said it. This year, the holidays were a Let’s Just Get Through These Two Weeks…
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There Is No Script
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On April 23rd, 2018 my brother passed away. A phone call, a flight, and then 18 days of waiting for the inevitable. I sat at his bedside for 18 days. Most days I had to be convinced to eat or sleep. 18 days. Such a short amount of time and…
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One Year
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Today marks one year. One year since life as I knew it changed. One year since I sat and stared at you for hours that day holding on to every ounce of hope my heart could muster. One year since I held your hand and felt you slip away. One…
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Picking Up The Pieces
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The start of the school year had me opening my classroom door in a brand new building, with brand new students, brand new colleagues, and a host of brand new experiences just waiting for me. Learning to build and navigate professional relationships all over again was challenging. Relearning how to make…
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Supposed To
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Last week was the first day of school…you were supposed to walk him to school. Meet his new teacher. Smile, crack a joke, wish him the best first day. I was supposed to get a photo. The standard, holding hands, matching shirts, taken from behind while walking to school picture.…
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I Found A Dime
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A month ago, life as I knew it changed. My world was rocked, turned upside down. Everything changed in a matter of seconds. As all the dust settles, I’m somehow supposed to pick up where I left off before that fateful phone call. What I’m learning is that my brain…