9/11 — Ten Years Later

September 11th, 2011
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Photo by Newsday

 

 

Sadness…Awe…Gratitude…Grief.  All woven together, this is what I feel about 9/11, ten years later.

Sadness and grief for the lives lost that awful day but gratitude and awe for the extraordinary memorial now in place at Ground Zero and the heroic efforts of fellow Americans who made it possible for survivors to talk about how they miraculously escaped the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Human strengths and human frailties live side by side today at Ground Zero in New York City, the Washington, DC Pentagon building and the field where Flight 93 crashed in … Read More

Mary Chapin Carpenter

September 10th, 2011
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Grand Central Station, New York City Here is a short clip of award-winning singer songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter eloquently telling the story that inspired her to write a new song titled, “Grand Central Station,” a song remembering another group of quiet heros from 9/11: the hundreds of people who diligently and passionately worked to clean-up and preserve the hallowed remains of Ground Zero. Please listen to it…….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04L5_cnFVC0 Thanks Ryan!!!!… Read More

Reluctantly Falling Into Fall

September 2nd, 2011
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Early this morning I opened the front door to get the newspaper and felt a chill in the air that can mean only one thing:  the seasons are starting to change and I don’t like it. Summer is my very, very favorite season of the year.  It is totally the best! I know, I know, I hear lots of you out there saying something garbled about the heat and humidity in DC, but I don’t care.  Summer is light clothing, fresh fruits and vegetables and long days.  Summer is bare feet, freshly cut grass and beach time.  My thinking about… Read More

School Days — Reminding Teachers About Loss

August 31st, 2011
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School days are here again and the usual anxieties are filling children’s heads: a new year of learning, a new teacher, new friends or a new school.  Along with thoughts about wearing the right clothes, hanging out with the cool crowd, comes an additional layer of concerns for those children who are still dealing with a death in the family or perhaps one that may have occurred during the summer. This school year also brings the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and reminders of this event are all around us: television specials, national ceremonies and the opening of… Read More

Harry Potter & His Parents

July 22nd, 2011
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Hi readers!  Today we have a guest blogger, Ryan O’Toole, a rising senior at Fordham University, and in the interest of full disclosure, my son: Isn’t it funny that there are words for people whose spouses die?  A woman whose husband dies is called a widow, while a man whose wife dies is called a widower. Now the sheer existence of these words might not seem odd to you at face value, but doesn’t it strike you as a weird oversight of the English language that we do not have words for children who lose a parent?  I have thought… Read More

Eating and Grieving

July 14th, 2011
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I took a visit to the farmer’s market down the street from my office today and of course learned something new and good for me. ‘Cause that’s what farmer’s markets are all about!! The Summer 2011 issue of Flavor magazine features a cover story about Sam Kass, assistant chef at the White House.  The story, written by former New York Times and Washington Post staff reporter Marion Burros, discusses how Kass changed the way the Obama family eats.  By cooking wholesome local and seasonal foods for the Obama family during the presidential campaign and now in the White House kitchen, … Read More

Bestselling Author Ann Kaiser Stearns, PhD — Save The Date

July 9th, 2011
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Although Widowed Persons Outreach provides help for those who are widowed, this October 19th, the 2011 conference is open to everyone! You may be a professional or helping a friend or family member through loss and want to deepen your skills and understanding.  Or you yourself may be experiencing a loss. Whatever your situation, this conference will give you comfort and hope. Bestselling author Dr. Ann Kaiser Stearns brings a powerful message to those dealing with the pain of a loss. When a loved one dies, a marriage or important relationship ends, a financial or health crisis occurs, or even… Read More

Feeling Like A Firework

July 2nd, 2011
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  This July 4th holiday weekend may be your first holiday without a loved one.  It may be full of poignant memories, making it difficult to participate and enjoy the fireworks, parades and backyard cook-outs. I recently found some helpful suggestions on healing from Capital Hospice’s Survivor’s Guide and thought I would share the following in case you are having a difficult time: — It is okay to feel lousy.  Some days will be worse than others.  There is no logical progression to these feelings and that is okay. –Cry if you need to. –In dealing with guilt associated with… Read More

Julie Potter — Sibley Hospital Angel

July 1st, 2011
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I write today about a special woman named Julie Potter who played a pivotal role in putting me and many others on the path to resilience. Today is Julie’s last day at Sibley Hospital and I know that she will be missed quite a lot; especially by me!!!!!  True to her nature, Julie always downplays her valuable contributions and the vast resources she has set up at Sibley to help others. Besides her primary responsibilities at Sibley’s Senior Services department, Julie also oversees the Widowed Persons Outreach (WPO) bereavement group.  For 21 years, Julie has reached out to help people… Read More