The Holiday Tree was decorated with ornaments and twinkling lights. Presents have yet to be bought and wrapped. Most children lie await each night waiting for Santa, not Lidia…she was waiting for me. It was three days before Christmas and the rush of the Holiday was at its peak. I was asked to see a [...]
Happy Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving season is filled with hope, gratitude and reflection. We look forward to being with family and friends, reviewing the year’s achievements, and giving thanks for the abundance in our lives. It is in this spirit of hope and gratitude that I offer my heartfelt best wishes. How did the first European settlers in [...]
Halloween, Customs and Remembering
As one of the world’s oldest Holidays, Halloween is celebrated around the world in many countries. For us here in the states it is a night of dressing up and going door to door to collect treats. But for many cultures it is a period of time to acknowledge the departed, prepare for the isolation [...]
Sweet Lorraine
A friend of mine sent me this video of a 96 year old man who lost his wife of 73 years. An Illinois-based music studio, held an online contest for singer-songwriters where the Studio employees discovered this jewel. It is now an internet chart topper. Enjoy and grab a tissue. Click here to view the [...]
The Talk You Didn’t Have Could Cost You
As a Hospice nurse I have encountered many questions and concerns but none so common place as “I have no idea where mom or dad’s financial information is and how to access it.” The enclosed article provides a good overview and starting point to begin these conversations. If you haven’t had a conversation with your [...]
Death Cafe
Last Thursday I attended my first Death Café. This was the second such event in San Diego and one of many such gatherings that have sprung up throughout the country in the last year. The Death Café movement is an offshoot of the “café mortel” phenomenon that emerged in Switzerland and France about 10 years [...]
Graduation, Completion and Legacy
I recently attended my son’s college graduation in Miami. It was a time of excitement, pride and family togetherness. The commencement ceremonies shared messages of hope, the importance of continual learning and the challenge of leaving a legacy. I reflected on completion and the many stages of growth my son achieved on his journey. I [...]
What’s Beauty?
What do the final hours of death look like? How do I know it is near? I have been asked these questions over and over during my years as a Hospice nurse. Although each one of us is different, there are signs that the end is near. In this month’s posts, you will learn the [...]
Signs that Death is Near
As a person approaches the final hours of life, three types of changes occur. There are physical changes that take place as the body begins to shut down and there are emotional and spiritual changes. This article focuses on the physical changes that occur. I will defer to experts in other disciplines to address the [...]
The Beauty Queen
Georgia was crowned Prom Queen during her senior year of high school. After graduation she went on to college and won local beauty pageants that helped finance her college education. Georgia was tall, graceful and beautiful. During her final year of college she married George who was an electrical engineer and “plain looking” by his [...]
