Wow, Kara, this is beautiful. That scene of you returning home and it not being the familiar warm comfort you wanted/expected was so devastating and so real. Thank you for putting it into a context that makes some sense, and for sharing it with us. The experience of loss is at once so personal and so universal, and you write about both so eloquently.
Gorgeous, gorgeous writing as always. I had a similar experience putting away my mother's things after she died. Ten years later, I found her purse in one of those boxes, and it was like an archive of her life-- her lipstick, her medication, her trinkets. Some days I still don't know how to be this sad.
Tara, thank you so much for your comment! It really means the world.
And Yes! I can totally imagine your Mom’s purse. So so hard. Lissy’s make-up was So Tough for me and my sister Jenny. Those very personal things that you know they used every day are mind boggling in the beginning. Of course, now I can enjoy many of her things. Thank God it gets better. But it did take years. ❤️💕❤️
"I had no idea how to be this sad." Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable moment in your grief journey. What a gift to know we are not alone when we feel this way. You are not alone dear friend.
Yes!! We are not alone. We are never alone! A huge takeaway from the whole journey. Thank you so much Jill for your lovely, thoughtful reads!! I so appreciate you. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you Kara, I love reading these so much. I have an apple pie recipe in her beautiful hand writing that I make every fall. So blessed to have known her.
Oh my gosh! Me too. I have a few of her recipes and they are among my favorite things! I’m so glad you are enjoying these essays. It’s sweet to share the journey w others—esp, of course, people who knew and loved her!! 🥰❤️💕🙏
Thank you for this reflection Kara. It is similar to my experience of grief, which has its own set of rules. Always lurking beneath the surface, but not appearing when I expect. Almost like it has to surprise us to have its purging effect. Grateful for your writing.
This is lovely Kara. I’ve been enjoying your writing so much! I also wanted to share a Substack of a friend of mine, Kim Danielson. I’m going to send her your post too! Call it a sub-troduction. :)
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your comment. I’m writing to you from those exact table and chairs right now. And they are warm, inviting, mine once again! But I suffered for sure from some dissociative stuff back then. Grief is tough. So grateful for your thoughtful read and comment. 💕🙏❤️
Kara so beautiful and answered so many questions that have created confusion for me in similar regard. Thank you...
Wow, Kara, this is beautiful. That scene of you returning home and it not being the familiar warm comfort you wanted/expected was so devastating and so real. Thank you for putting it into a context that makes some sense, and for sharing it with us. The experience of loss is at once so personal and so universal, and you write about both so eloquently.
Gorgeous, gorgeous writing as always. I had a similar experience putting away my mother's things after she died. Ten years later, I found her purse in one of those boxes, and it was like an archive of her life-- her lipstick, her medication, her trinkets. Some days I still don't know how to be this sad.
Tara, thank you so much for your comment! It really means the world.
And Yes! I can totally imagine your Mom’s purse. So so hard. Lissy’s make-up was So Tough for me and my sister Jenny. Those very personal things that you know they used every day are mind boggling in the beginning. Of course, now I can enjoy many of her things. Thank God it gets better. But it did take years. ❤️💕❤️
Beautifully written Lis would have so proud to call you her sister and her best friend Keep well my Friend Thinking of you
Oh Jane! What a lovely thing to say! Thank you so much. It has been a sweet process for me to tell the stories. ❤️💕❤️🙏🙏🙏
"I had no idea how to be this sad." Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable moment in your grief journey. What a gift to know we are not alone when we feel this way. You are not alone dear friend.
Yes!! We are not alone. We are never alone! A huge takeaway from the whole journey. Thank you so much Jill for your lovely, thoughtful reads!! I so appreciate you. ❤️❤️❤️
Their frightfulness had all but vanished and they looked to me instead solid and restful. I love this so much and can relate so whole-heartedly.🤍
So lovely to be connected thru Ann! ❤️ I cannot wait to read your book.
Thank you Kara, I love reading these so much. I have an apple pie recipe in her beautiful hand writing that I make every fall. So blessed to have known her.
Oh my gosh! Me too. I have a few of her recipes and they are among my favorite things! I’m so glad you are enjoying these essays. It’s sweet to share the journey w others—esp, of course, people who knew and loved her!! 🥰❤️💕🙏
Thank you for this reflection Kara. It is similar to my experience of grief, which has its own set of rules. Always lurking beneath the surface, but not appearing when I expect. Almost like it has to surprise us to have its purging effect. Grateful for your writing.
This is lovely Kara. I’ve been enjoying your writing so much! I also wanted to share a Substack of a friend of mine, Kim Danielson. I’m going to send her your post too! Call it a sub-troduction. :)
https://kimdanielson.substack.com/p/sneak-peek-at-my-memoir?r=kn5mr&utm_medium=ios
Thank you so much, Ann! Miss you and the nabe. ❤️💕 I just introduced myself to Kim and ordered her book. It looks beautiful! XO
Oh thank you sweet Di! Yeah, I had NO idea at the time that what was happening was a pretty common stress response. 🥰❤️🙏
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your comment. I’m writing to you from those exact table and chairs right now. And they are warm, inviting, mine once again! But I suffered for sure from some dissociative stuff back then. Grief is tough. So grateful for your thoughtful read and comment. 💕🙏❤️