Surviving Breast Cancer: What’s It About?
By the time I celebrated five years cancer-free a whole day could go by without dwelling on my death....
Death & Dying
The Best Obituary Ever
I read obituaries religiously, but none have captured my interest like this one did... ...
A Freak Accident Changed Our Lives
The details of my wife’s accident are horrible to recount, but here they are in a nutshell. On a beautiful December day......
Is Long Term Care Insurance Necessary?
No matter your age, long term care is in your future—you should start preparing now....
Do I Have Permission To Remarry After You’re Dead?
As my dad used to say, there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. It's best to get things things sorted out....
My Friend Loved The Beach
On her good days, we talked about our teenage daughters, best friends since they were babies. We compared notes, across the country…she advised me, I advised her. We talked about the future, when she was well, and we would see each other more often, always somewhere near a beach....
Mourning Philip Seymour Hoffman
He was rich, brilliant, had it all. But I've known addiction in one closest to me who isn’t rich, who doesn’t have it all. ...
How Can We Really Help Our Children With Loss?
News of a parent’s passing directly sends me to the children. ...
Goodbye, and Thank You Bubbe
Ironically, this past Grandparents Day, I attended the funeral of my last surviving grandparent....
Chasing Chaos
It took the death of my mother to spur me onto a humanitarian path, one that was very different from the original path I was on....
5 Life Lessons From Wise Women
Eighteen women reflected on the experiences we have lived and explored future life issues....
Do You Want To Know If You Have The Alzheimer’s Gene?
This article is the first in a 3 part series. Watch for part 2 this Saturday, August 31....
The Hardest Conversation
I asked her if she wanted to talk about what was going on, about my news about having metastatic breast cancer. She did....
Dear God, Please Help My Mother Die
Although I've seriously pondered it, there is no legal way for me to help my mother die....
How I Lost My Father’s Voice and Found My Own
With my father's Mont Blanc I begin to write his eulogy....
There Is Nothing Fun About A Nursing Home
“The place resounds everywhere with loneliness and isolation and the romance of what has been lost.” ...
Rock and Roll Music For Your Own Funeral
Who thought planning your own funeral could put a smile on your face?...
My Resolution: Take Charge of My Happiness
I am done counting out the bad news of the week. (Like I have a choice.) So, I created a little poster to put on my wall....
A Lesson In Love and Loss
My dad was also in a hurry to dispose of anything that reminded him of my mom....
If You Were to Die Tomorrow
“You’re DEAD,” I say. “Don’t you want me to be happy?”...