I found this app today due to a friend of Mae Beth’s writing genre change. I was very excited to fiend your writings posted. You are such a powerful writer who makes me see aspects of life more thoughtfully. Your bus ride perspective has been shared many times as written, examples, and phenomenal ideas to see the community differently. I miss Jim and think of him, you, and your beautiful daughters often. Miss E is forever “my girl”. I miss her talks and insights into the world. To be as free as she is a true gift you and Jim shared with me. I will be forever grateful to you both. Thank you for sharing this post with the world. Much love to you and your girls. (Beautiful young women)
Rebecca, I remember reading this marvelous piece in its originally published incarnation, and it has stayed with me – especially the part about how the surviving spouse becomes the unwitting “point man” for all of the grief, questions and unfinished business that others have with and for the deceased. I’ve seen this same thing play out (often rather horribly) with my dad in the wake of my stepmother’s passing, where he’s doing his damnedest just to stay upright, and then someone with presumably the best of intentions unloads ten tons of their own upset and need for resolution onto him; and each time it’s happened, I’ve thought of your piece and what you had to deal with in the wake of Jim’s passing. I only hope I didn’t unwittingly add to your own stress or grief in this (or any other) way. ❤️
Rebecca,
I found this app today due to a friend of Mae Beth’s writing genre change. I was very excited to fiend your writings posted. You are such a powerful writer who makes me see aspects of life more thoughtfully. Your bus ride perspective has been shared many times as written, examples, and phenomenal ideas to see the community differently. I miss Jim and think of him, you, and your beautiful daughters often. Miss E is forever “my girl”. I miss her talks and insights into the world. To be as free as she is a true gift you and Jim shared with me. I will be forever grateful to you both. Thank you for sharing this post with the world. Much love to you and your girls. (Beautiful young women)
Rebecca, I remember reading this marvelous piece in its originally published incarnation, and it has stayed with me – especially the part about how the surviving spouse becomes the unwitting “point man” for all of the grief, questions and unfinished business that others have with and for the deceased. I’ve seen this same thing play out (often rather horribly) with my dad in the wake of my stepmother’s passing, where he’s doing his damnedest just to stay upright, and then someone with presumably the best of intentions unloads ten tons of their own upset and need for resolution onto him; and each time it’s happened, I’ve thought of your piece and what you had to deal with in the wake of Jim’s passing. I only hope I didn’t unwittingly add to your own stress or grief in this (or any other) way. ❤️
Beautiful, poignant and powerful rumination. Thank you for sharing with us.