How a gentle service dog comforted me during my time of need and became one of my most influential teachers. — Monday, January 31st was significant, but not for reasons obvious to anyone except those who know me well. March 1 (3/1) was the date of my 18-year-old daughter Jeannine’s transition from the physical world due to cancer. When any combination of those numbers manifest, I am reminded of my daughter’s…

Legacies come in all shapes and sizes My late father, Austin Roberts, became a non -factor in my life when I was five years old He abruptly left me and my mother Sadie, who chose to raise me as a single parent. I wasn’t capable of verbalizing my feelings about his absence, but according to my mom…

Eternity Came to Call — I am warning you , he does not look the same. Those were the words that I uttered in February of 1998, to my 14-year-old daughter Jeannine. I was preparing to go to see Don, who was not only a friend but one of the first mentors I ever had…

There is a song by REM titled“ Until The Day is Done.” One of the passages from the song is: Providence blinked, facing the sun. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy refers to a concept rooted in theology known as Divine Providence. Divine Providence holds that: God is the creator of…

What it’s been like not having pets in my house for the first time in a long time. I always knew that day would come, where I would have to learn to live without pets in my life. For the last 26 years, our household has always been enriched by…

Reflections about my cat Zoey’s end of life chapter — Throughout my life, pets have always been a part of my family. I love all animals, but during the past 26 years ,cats have been my constant companions. My love for cats grew because of my late daughter Jeannine’s influence. …

Sometimes what we ask for exceeds our wildest expectations, leaving us in awe of what the universe manifests. — A Trip To The Windy City The Compassionate Friends 37th National Conference was held in Chicago, Illinois from July 11,2014 to July 13, 2014. This organization, with over 600 chapters in all 50 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam , provides support to families who have experienced the death of a child of any…

It all began with a simple sketch — In 2016, I attended a psychic fair in my hometown. It was sponsored by a friend of mine and I wanted to go, in part, to support her. However, during the last six years of my life, I had become more curious about the continuity of spirit or consciousness after…

And sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself — I have come to understand that every death we experience, permanently alters the landscape of our lives. In the event of catastrophic loss, or loss that defies the natural order of the universe, not only is the outer landscape of our lives altered but our inner one as well. It…