Tag: family
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Christmas (and then some) in July
As the tiniest-ever turkey waits in our fridge (likely the first and only time it will actually be thawed by Thursday morning), I struggle with a couple of dilemmas. First, what kind of new math do I need to justify three pies, six sides, and eight bottles of wine for four adults? Second, and more…
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“I have no words.”
I’ve never had writer’s block. Sure, there have been times that I didn’t write anything… sometimes months at a time. Just take a look at the gaping holes in this blog. But that wasn’t writer’s block. That was laziness, a new grandson, distraction, Netflix, procrastination, or (more often than I’d like to admit) an all-consuming…
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Marty Helwich: A Life Cut Short, Yet Lived to the Fullest
Last month, my sister’s beloved husband, Marty, succumbed to pancreatic cancer, having been diagnosed just after Christmas. Marty was truly one of the best people I’ve ever known, and I am just one of countless family and friends still reeling from this unfathomable loss. It was my honor and privilege to offer a eulogy at his…
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More Than a Mother-in-Law
My mother-in-law, Juanita Stephans, died on February 24, after 86 memorable years. It was my honor and privilege to write and deliver a eulogy at her funeral on March 2, and I am including the text below. If you weren’t lucky enough to know Juanita, I hope this brief remembrance will provide a glimpse into…